U.S. patent application number 11/508965 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-18 for nerve regeneration promoters containing semaphorin inhibitor as the active ingredient.
This patent application is currently assigned to Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Nobuo Hosotani, Kaoru Kikuchi, Toru Kimura, Akiyoshi Kishino, Kazuo Kumagai.
Application Number | 20070015820 11/508965 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26596897 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070015820 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kimura; Toru ; et
al. |
January 18, 2007 |
Nerve regeneration promoters containing semaphorin inhibitor as the
active ingredient
Abstract
To provide a semaphorin inhibitor; a peripheral or central nerve
regeneration promoter which contains said semaphorin inhibitor as
an active ingredient; and a preventive or remedy for a neuropathic
disease and a neurodegenerative disease containing said nerve
regeneration promoter, or the like. A low-molecular weight
compound, which acts at a concentration of 10 .mu.g/ml or below to
inhibit the growth cone collapse activity of semaphorin such as
semaphorin 3A, semaphorin 6C or the like and/or the nerve outgrowth
inhibitory activity of semaphorin in a collagen gel and which does
not substantially affect cell proliferation, is obtained from the
culture of strain SPF-3059 belonging to the genus Penicillium. The
low-molecular weight compound with the semaphorin inhibitory
activity thus obtained exhibits the in vivo nerve-regeneration
promoting action.
Inventors: |
Kimura; Toru; (Shiga,
JP) ; Kikuchi; Kaoru; (Hyogo, JP) ; Kumagai;
Kazuo; (Hyogo, JP) ; Hosotani; Nobuo; (Hyogo,
JP) ; Kishino; Akiyoshi; (Osaka, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VENABLE LLP
P.O. BOX 34385
WASHINGTON
DC
20043-9998
US
|
Assignee: |
Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co.,
Ltd.
Chuo-ku
JP
|
Family ID: |
26596897 |
Appl. No.: |
11/508965 |
Filed: |
August 24, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10343125 |
Jan 28, 2003 |
|
|
|
11508965 |
Aug 24, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
514/455 ;
514/456; 549/395 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61P 27/02 20180101;
C07D 311/86 20130101; C07D 493/04 20130101; A61P 25/16 20180101;
A61P 21/00 20180101; A61P 27/06 20180101; A61P 25/02 20180101; A61P
25/28 20180101; A61P 25/14 20180101; A61P 43/00 20180101; C07D
311/78 20130101; A61P 25/00 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
514/455 ;
514/456; 549/395 |
International
Class: |
A61K 31/353 20060101
A61K031/353; C07D 405/02 20060101 C07D405/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 27, 2001 |
WO |
PCT/JP01/06501 |
Jul 28, 2000 |
JP |
2000-228555 |
Dec 22, 2000 |
JP |
2000-390985 |
Claims
1-40. (canceled)
41. A compound represented by formula [13], wherein at least one of
R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.5 represents a hydrogen atom, a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a derivative thereof,
##STR47## wherein wherein R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, a
carboxyl group or an alkoxycarbonyl group, R.sup.2 represents a
hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group or an acyloxy group, R.sup.4
represents a hydrogen atom, a carboxyl group or an alkoxycarbonyl
group and R.sup.5 represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group or
an acyloxy group.
42. The compound according to claim 41 wherein at least one of
R.sup.2 and R.sup.5 represents a hydroxyl group, a pharmaceutically
acceptable salt thereof or a derivative thereof.
43. The compound according to claim 42 wherein R.sup.2 represents a
hydroxyl group, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a
derivative thereof.
44. The compound according to claim 42 wherein R.sup.2 and R.sup.5
represent a hydroxyl group, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt
thereof or a derivative thereof.
45. The compound according to claim 41 wherein R.sup.4 represents a
carboxyl group, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a
derivative thereof.
46. The compound according to claim 41 wherein R.sup.2 represents a
hydroxyl group and R.sup.4 represents a carboxyl group, a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a derivative
thereof.
47. The compound according to claim 41 wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.4
represent a carboxyl group and R.sup.5 represents a hydroxyl group,
a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a derivative
thereof.
48-80. (canceled)
81. A nerve regeneration promoter containing a compound represented
by formula [13], a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a
derivative thereof, as an active ingredient, ##STR48## wherein
wherein R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, a carboxyl group or an
alkoxycarbonyl group, R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom, a
hydroxyl group or an acyloxy group, R.sup.4 represents a hydrogen
atom, a carboxyl group or an alkoxycarbonyl group and R.sup.5
represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group or an acyloxy
group.
82. The nerve regeneration promoter according to claim 81 wherein
at least one of R.sup.2 and R.sup.5 represents a hydroxyl group in
formula [13], a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a
derivative thereof.
83. The semaphorin inhibitor according to claim 82 wherein R.sup.2
represents a hydroxyl group in formula [13], a pharmaceutically
acceptable salt thereof or a derivative thereof.
84. The semaphorin inhibitor according to claim 82 wherein R.sup.2
and R.sup.5 represent a hydroxyl group in formula [13], a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a derivative
thereof.
85. The semaphorin inhibitor according to claim 81 wherein R.sup.4
represents a carboxyl group in formula [13], a pharmaceutically
acceptable salt thereof or a derivative thereof.
86. The semaphorin inhibitor according to claim 82 wherein R.sup.4
represents a carboxyl group in formula [13], a pharmaceutically
acceptable salt thereof or a derivative thereof.
87. The semaphorin inhibitor according to claim 83 wherein R.sup.4
represents a carboxyl group in formula [13], a pharmaceutically
acceptable salt thereof or a derivative thereof.
88. The semaphorin inhibitor according to claim 84 wherein R.sup.4
represents a carboxyl group in formula [13], a pharmaceutically
acceptable salt thereof or a derivative thereof.
89. The semaphorin inhibitor according to claim 81 wherein R.sup.2
and R.sup.5 represent a hydroxyl group, R.sup.1 represents a
carboxyl group and R.sup.4 represents a hydrogen atom in formula
[13], a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a derivative
thereof.
90. The semaphorin inhibitor according to claim 81 wherein R.sup.1
and R.sup.4 represent a carboxyl group and R.sup.5 represents a
hydroxyl group in formula [13], a pharmaceutically acceptable salt
thereof or a derivative thereof.
91. The compound according to claim 42 wherein R.sup.4 represents a
carboxyl group, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a
derivative thereof.
92. The compound according to claim 43 wherein R.sup.4 represents a
carboxyl group, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a
derivative thereof.
93. The compound according to claim 44 wherein R.sup.4 represents a
carboxyl group, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a
derivative thereof.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to central or peripheral nerve
regeneration promoters containing semaphorin inhibitor as an active
ingredient, to preventives and remedies for neurodegenerative
diseases or the like which contain the nerve regeneration
promoters, to non-peptide and non-nucleotide semaphorin inhibitors,
to compounds with the semaphorin inhibitory activity, and to a
microbiological process for producing the said compounds or the
like.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Nerve cells are particular tissues, which has no mitotic
potential in an adult. Therefore, once they are injured, the damage
will last over a long period of time. It is said that there is no
regeneration potential especially in the central nervous system
(CNS) such as brain and spinal cord. Lack of the regeneration
potential in the central nerves can be regarded as one of the
reasons that there have been no established therapies for traumatic
injuries such as spinal cord injury, nor for neurodegenerative
diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson disease. On the
other hand, peripheral nerves possess regeneration potential. Their
axons can regenerate and their functions can be recovered even
after having been severed. In this case, however, the recovery
requires a long span of time ranging from several months to even
more than a year, and thus patients have to undergo considerable
sufferings. Moreover, the recovery period is so long that some
nerve cells may die during this period, which often leads to the
failure of recovery of the functions. And yet, even the peripheral
nerves having regeneration potential are entirely unable to outgrow
in the CNS such as in brain and spinal cord. This brings the basis
for the hypothesis that there exist some substances in the central
nervous system that inhibit nerve outgrowth. If the inhibitory
substances for nerve regeneration in the central nervous system are
suppressed by using antibodies or the like, nerve regeneration in
the CNS as well as the recovery of their functions will be
observed, even though partially. As one of such inhibitory
substances for the central nerve regeneration, Nogo has been
recently discovered (Nature 403, 434, 2000, Nature 403, 439, 2000).
However, only a small portion of axons are regenerated by
inhibiting Nogo and it is thus presumed that there exist some other
regeneration-inhibitory substances. The followings are exemplified
as candidate substances that inhibit the nerve regeneration: MAG
(myelin-associated glycoprotein); tenascin; gangliosides; ephrin;
netrin; slit; semaphorins and the like. The only reason for these
substances to be exemplified as the candidate substances is that
they inhibit neurite outgrowth in vitro. Whether they actually act
to inhibit nerve regeneration in vivo has not yet been elucidated
so far.
[0003] Referring to semaphorin, its gene was first isolated as a
factor involved in nervous system formation in developing locusts.
Since then, it has been reported that semaphorins constitute a
large gene family distributing in nematodes, fish, mammals or even
certain kinds of virus, and currently semaphorin genes are
classified into eight gene subfamilies or classes based on their
structures (Cell 97, 551, 1999). Semaphorin is an endogenous
protein identified as a factor which collapses nerve growth cone
and suppresses axon outgrowth, and so far, about 20 molecular
species have been reported (Cell 97, 551, 1999). However, most
functions of many semaphorin families have not yet been discovered
in detail. The most studied gene group is that of a subfamily
called the class III type, all of whose translation products are
secretory proteins. Although proteins encoded by these genes are
known to possess intensive neurite outgrowth suppressing activity
and growth cone collapse activity in vitro, it was reported that
they induce neurite outgrowth under certain conditions. Among them,
semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) is the most studied and is known to induce
growth cone collapse of the cultured nerve cells at as low as 10 pM
concentration in a short period of time (Cell 75, 217, 1993, Cell
75, 1389, 1993). In order to analyze in viva functions of
semaphorins, knockout mice for neuropilin-1, which is one of the
components of Sema3A receptor, have been studied (Neuron 19, 995,
1997). The said knockout mice show embryonic lethality as well as
motor abnormality in some nervous systems such as trigeminal nerve
and angiogenesis abnormality. Although similar motor abnormality in
nervous systems is observed in Sema3A knockout mice, some
individual mice are reported to grow up to adults without serious
problem. Therefore, the in viva functions of Sema3A remain largely
unknown.
[0004] Moreover, with regard to semaphorins the followings are also
known: antisense nucleototides and antagonists such as antibodies
or the like for semaphorin W, semaphorin Y and semaphorin Z are
made for central nerve regeneration promoters (WO98/15628,
WO98/11216, WO98/20928); and a method of inducing neurite outgrowth
by contacting a nerve cell with an antibody that specifically binds
to human collapsin is known (U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,197). However, in
vivo actions of these antibodies or the like still remain unknown.
Besides, any low-molecular weight compounds other than peptide or
nucleotide such as an antibody or an antisense nucleotide or the
like, which specifically inhibite semaphorin have been completely
unknown.
[0005] The subject of the present invention is to provide
semaphorin inhibitors, peripheral or central nerve regeneration
promoters that contain the said semaphorin inhibitors as an active
ingredient, preventives and remedies for neuropathic diseases and
neurodegenerative diseases that contain the nerve regeneration
promoters.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Semaphorins are thought to have various actions, and some
researchers postulated that semaphorins were involved not only in
the nerve development but also in the nerve regeneration, though
there were little evidence. Further, a gene deficient animal does
not always serve as a tool for evaluating the function of the gene
because the loss of the gene function often induce a compensatory
action by other genes, as observed in MAG knockout animal. Although
MAG had been thought for years as a result of a number of studies
to be one of inhibitory substances for nerve regeneration, MAG
knockout mice did not show promotion of nerve regeneration. The
present inventors, therefore, commenced the study on semaphorin to
examine whether inhibition of semaphorin brings about the in viva
nerve regeneration without using semaphorin knockout animals.
[0007] First, a substance that entirely inhibits the semaphorin
activity in vitro was screened, and thus screened semaphorin
inhibitor was administered to a nerve regeneration animal model to
clarify the in viva nerve-regeneration promoting activity of said
semaphorin inhibitor. As a result of this study, the present
inventors have found that a substance, which not only inhibits the
growth cone collapse activity of semaphorin entirely but also
persistently inhibits the semaphorin activity in a collagen gel and
promotes neurite outgrowth in the presence of semaphorin, and
exhibits the in vivo nerve-regeneration promoting activity. The
present inventors have further found that nerve regeneration was
promoted not only in the peripheral nervous system but in the CNS
by using the semaphorin inhibitor. The study not only elucidated
the in vivo action of semaphorin but also made it possible to
provide nerve regeneration promoter containing a semaphorin
inhibitor, which has been completely undiscovered, as an active
ingredient, and a pharmaceutical containing the nerve regeneration
promoter. The study have also elucidated that a compound with a
specific structure in the molecule discovered in the culture of
Penicillium sp. SPF-3059, which was screened by the present
inventors, exhibits semaphorin inhibitory activity. The present
invention was accomplished based on these findings.
[0008] The present invention relates to: a nerve regeneration
promoter containing an inhibitor for a nerve outgrowth repelling
factor as an active ingredient (claim 1); the nerve regeneration
promoter according to claim 1, wherein the inhibitor for a nerve
outgrowth repelling factor is a semaphorin inhibitor (claim 2); the
nerve regeneration promoter according to claim 2, wherein the
semaphorin inhibitor is a class 3 semaphorin inhibitor (claim 3);
the nerve regeneration promoter according to claim 3, wherein the
class 3 semaphorin inhibitor is a semaphorin 3A inhibitor (claim
4); the nerve regeneration promoter according to claim 2, wherein
the semaphorin inhibitor is a class 6 semaphorin inhibitor (claim
5); the nerve regeneration promoter according to claim 5, wherein
the class 6 semaphorin inhibitor is a semaphorin 6C inhibitor
(claim 6); the nerve regeneration promoter according to any of
claims 2-6, wherein the semaphorin inhibitor is a compound having
promoting action on the central and/or the peripheral nerve
regeneration (claim 7); the nerve regeneration promoter according
to any of claims 2-7, wherein the semaphorin inhibitor is a
compound having suppressing action on the growth cone collapse
activity of semaphorin and/or on the nerve outgrowth inhibitory
activity of semaphorin in a collagen gel (claim 8); the nerve
regeneration promoter according to claim 8, wherein the compound
having suppressing activity for the growth cone collapse activity
and/or suppressing action on the nerve outgrowth inhibitory
activity in a collagen gel exhibits said suppressing action at a
concentration of 100 .mu.g/ml or below (claim 9); the nerve
regeneration promoter according to claim 9, wherein the compound
having suppressing activity for the growth cone collapse activity
and/or suppressing action on the nerve outgrowth inhibitory
activity in a collagen gel exhibits said suppressing action at a
concentration of 10 .mu.g/ml or below (claim 10); the nerve
regeneration promoter according to claim 10, wherein the compound
having suppressing activity on the growth cone collapse activity
and/or suppressing action on the nerve outgrowth inhibitory
activity in a collagen gel exhibits said suppressing action at a
concentration of 3 .mu.g/ml or below (claim 11); the nerve
regeneration promoter according to any of claims 2-11, wherein the
semaphorin inhibitor is a compound which inhibits the function of
semaphorin by contacting said semaphorin (claim 12); the nerve
regeneration promoter according to any of claims 2-12, wherein the
semaphorin inhibitor is a compound which does not substantially
affect cell proliferation (claim 13); the nerve regeneration
promoter according to any of claims 2-13, wherein the semaphorin
inhibitor is a compound with a molecular weight of 1000 or less
(claim 14); the nerve regeneration promoter according to any of
claims 2-14, wherein the semaphorin inhibitor is a non-peptide and
a non-nucleotide compound (claim 15); the nerve regeneration
promoter according to claim 15, wherein the non-peptide and the
non-nucleotide compound is obtained from cultivating Penicillium
sp. SPF-3059 (claim 16); and the nerve regeneration promoter
according to claim 16, wherein the non-peptide and the
non-nucleotide compound obtained from cultivating Penicillium sp.
SPF-3059 contains a group represented by formulae [1], [2], [4] or
[5] and/or a group represented by formulae [6] or [7] in the
molecule, ##STR1## wherein, ##STR2## represents a single bond or a
double bond, R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, a carboxyl group
or an alkoxycarbonyl group and R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom,
a hydroxyl group or an acyloxy group, ##STR3## wherein R.sup.1 and
R.sup.2 have the same meanings as in formula [1] and R.sup.3
represents a hydrogen atom, a methoxymethyl group or formula [3],
##STR4## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 have the same meanings as in
formula [1], ##STR5## wherein R.sup.4 represents a hydrogen atom, a
carboxyl group or an alkoxycarbonyl group and R.sup.5 represents a
hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group or an acyloxy group, ##STR6##
wherein R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 have the same meanings as in formula
[6] (claim 17).
[0009] The present invention further relates to: a semaphorin
inhibitor containing a compound which has a group represented by
formulae [1], [2], [4] or [5] and a group represented by formulae
[6] or [7] in the molecule, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt
thereof or a derivative thereof, as an active ingredient, ##STR7##
wherein, ##STR8## represents a single bond or a double bond,
R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, a carboxyl group or an
alkoxycarbonyl group and R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom, a
hydroxyl group or an acyloxy group, ##STR9## wherein R.sup.1 and
R.sup.2 have the same meanings as in formula [1] and R.sup.3
represents a hydrogen atom, a methoxymethyl group or formula [3],
##STR10## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 have the same meanings as in
formula [1], ##STR11## wherein R.sup.4 represents a hydrogen atom,
a carboxyl group or an alkoxycarbonyl group and R.sup.5 represents
a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group or an acyloxy group, ##STR12##
wherein R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 have the same meanings as in formula
[6] (claim 18); a semaphorin inhibitor containing a compound
represented by formula [8], a pharmaceutically acceptable salt
thereof or a derivative thereof, as an active ingredient, ##STR13##
wherein R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 have the same meanings as in formula
[6] and R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 are represented by either (1) or (2)
below: [0010] (1) R.sup.6 represents a methyl group and R.sup.7
represents a group shown by formulae [2], [9] or [10], ##STR14##
wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 have the same meanings as in formula
[1] and R.sup.3 represents a hydrogen atom, a methoxymethyl group
or formula [3], ##STR15## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 have the same
meanings as in formula [1], ##STR16## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2
have the same meanings as in formula [1], [0011] (2) R.sup.6
represents a group shown by formulae [5] or [11] and R.sup.7
represents an acetyl group, ##STR17## (claim 19); a semaphorin
inhibitor containing a compound represented by formula [12], a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a derivative thereof,
as an active ingredient, ##STR18## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2,
R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 have the same meanings as in formulae [1] and
[6] (claim 20); the semaphorin inhibitor according to claim 20
which contains a compound wherein at least one of R.sup.2 and
R.sup.5 represents a hydroxyl group in formula [12], a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a derivative thereof,
as an active ingredient (claim 21); the semaphorin inhibitor
according to claim 21 which contains a compound wherein R.sup.2
represents a hydroxyl group in formula [12], a pharmaceutically
acceptable salt thereof or a derivative thereof, as an active
ingredient (claim 22); the semaphorin inhibitor according to claim
21 which contains a compound wherein R.sup.2 and R.sup.5 represent
a hydroxyl group in formula [12], a pharmaceutically acceptable
salt thereof or a derivative thereof, as an active ingredient
(claim 23); the semaphorin inhibitor according to any of claims
20-23 which contains a compound wherein R.sup.4 represents a
carboxyl group in formula [12], a pharmaceutically acceptable salt
thereof or a derivative thereof, as an active ingredient (claim
24); the semaphorin inhibitor according to claim 20 which contains
a compound wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.4represent a carboxyl group
and R.sup.2 represents a hydroxyl group in formula [12], a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a derivative thereof,
as an active ingredient (claim 25); and a nerve regeneration
promoter containing the semaphorin inhibitor according to any of
claims 18-25 as an active ingredient (claim 26).
[0012] The present invention still further relates to: a compound
represented by formula [12], wherein at least one of R.sup.1,
R.sup.2, R.sup.4 and R.sup.9 is represented by a hydrogen atom, a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a derivative thereof,
##STR19## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 have the
same meanings as in formulae [1] and [6] (claim 27); the compound
according to claim 27 wherein at least one of R.sup.2 and R.sup.5
represents a hydroxyl group, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt
thereof or a derivative thereof (claim 28); the compound according
to claim 28 wherein R.sup.2 represents a hydroxyl group, a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a derivative thereof
(claim 29); the compound according to claim 28 wherein R.sup.2 and
R.sup.5 represent a hydroxyl group, a pharmaceutically acceptable
salt thereof or a derivative thereof (claim 30); the compound
according to any of claims 27-30 wherein R.sup.4 represents a
carboxyl group, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a
derivative thereof (claim 31); and the compound according to claim
27 wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.4 represent a carboxyl group and
R.sup.2 represents a hydroxyl group, a pharmaceutically acceptable
salt thereof or a derivative thereof (claim 32).
[0013] The present invention further relates to: a semaphorin
inhibitor containing a compound represented by formula [13], a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a derivative thereof,
as an active ingredient, ##STR20## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2,
R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 have the same meanings as in formulae [1] and
[6] (claim 33); the semaphorin inhibitor according to claim 33
which contains a compound wherein at least one of R.sup.2 and
R.sup.5 represents a hydroxyl group in formula [13], a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a derivative thereof,
as an active ingredient (claim 34); the semaphorin inhibitor
according to claim 34 which contains a compound wherein R.sup.2
represents a hydroxyl group in formula [13], a pharmaceutically
acceptable salt thereof or a derivative thereof, as an active
ingredient (claim 35); the semaphorin inhibitor according to claim
34 which contains a compound wherein R.sup.2 and R.sup.5 represent
a hydroxyl group in formula [13], a pharmaceutically acceptable
salt thereof or a derivative thereof, as an active ingredient
(claim 36); the semaphorin inhibitor according to any of claims
33-36 which contains a compound wherein R.sup.4 represents a
carboxyl group in formula [13], a pharmaceutically acceptable salt
thereof or a derivative thereof, as an active ingredient (claim
37); the semaphorin inhibitor according to claim 33 which contains
a compound wherein R.sup.2 and R.sup.5 represent a hydroxyl group,
R.sup.1 represents a carboxyl group and R.sup.4 represents a
hydrogen atom in formula [13], a pharmaceutically acceptable salt
thereof or a derivative thereof, as an active ingredient (claim
38); the semaphorin inhibitor according to claim 33 which contains
a compound wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.4 represent a carboxyl group
and R.sup.5 represents a hydroxyl group in formula [13], a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a derivative thereof,
as an active ingredient (claim 39); and a nerve regeneration
promoter containing the semaphorin inhibitor according to any of
claims 33-39 as an active ingredient (claim 40).
[0014] The present invention still further relates to: a compound
represented by formula [13], wherein at least one of R.sup.1,
R.sup.2 and R.sup.5 represents a hydrogen, a pharmaceutically
acceptable salt thereof or a derivative thereof, ##STR21## wherein
R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 have the same meanings as in
formulae [1] and [6] (claim 41); the compound according to claim 41
wherein at least one of R.sup.2 and R.sup.5 represents a hydroxyl
group, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a derivative
thereof (claim 42); the compound according to claim 42 wherein
R.sup.2 represents a hydroxyl group, a pharmaceutically acceptable
salt thereof or a derivative thereof (claim 43); the compound
according to claim 42 wherein R.sup.2 and R.sup.5 represent a
hydroxyl group, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a
derivative thereof (claim 44); the compound according to any of
claims 41-44 wherein R.sup.4 represents a carboxyl group, a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a derivative thereof
(claim 45); the compound according to claim 41 wherein R.sup.2
represents a hydroxyl group and R.sup.4 represents a carboxyl
group, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a derivative
thereof (claim 46); the compound according to claim 41 wherein
R.sup.1 and R.sup.4 represent a carboxyl group and R.sup.5
represents a hydroxyl group, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt
thereof or a derivative thereof (claim 47); a compound represented
by formula [14], a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a
derivative thereof, ##STR22## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3,
R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 have the same meanings as in formulae [2] and
[6] (claim 48); the compound according to claim 48 wherein at least
one of R.sup.2 and R.sup.5 represents a hydroxyl group, a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a derivative thereof
(claim 49); the compound according to claim 49 wherein R.sup.2
represents a hydroxyl group, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt
thereof or a derivative thereof (claim 50); the compound according
to claim 49 wherein R.sup.2 and R.sup.5 represent a hydroxyl group,
a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a derivative thereof
(claim 51); the compound according to any of claims 48-51 wherein
R.sup.4 represents a carboxyl group, a pharmaceutically acceptable
salt thereof or a derivative thereof (claim 52); the compound
according to claim 48 wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.4 represent a
carboxyl group and R.sup.2 and R.sup.5 represent a hydroxyl group,
a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a derivative thereof
(claim 53); the compound according to claim 48 wherein R.sup.1
represents a carboxyl group, R.sup.2 and R.sup.5 represent a
hydroxyl group and R.sup.3 represents a methoxymethyl group, a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a derivative thereof
(claim 54); the compound according to claim 48 wherein R.sup.1
represents a carboxyl group or a methoxycarbonyl group, R.sup.4
represents a carboxyl group, R.sup.3 represents a hydrogen atom and
R.sup.5 represents a hydroxyl group, a pharmaceutically acceptable
salt thereof or a derivative thereof (claim 55); the compound
according to claim 55 wherein R.sup.1 represents a carboxyl group
or a methoxycarbonyl group, R.sup.4 represents a carboxyl group,
R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 represent a hydrogen atom and R.sup.5
represents a hydroxyl group, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt
thereof or a derivative thereof (claim 56); the compound according
to any of claims 48-53, wherein R.sup.3 represents a group shown by
formula [3], a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a
derivative thereof ##STR23## (claim 57); a semaphorin inhibitor
containing a compound of any of claims 48-57, a pharmaceutically
acceptable salt thereof or a derivative thereof, as an active
ingredient (claim 58); and a nerve regeneration promoter containing
the semaphorin inhibitor according to claim 58 as an active
ingredient (claim 59).
[0015] The present invention still further relates to: a compound
represented by formula [15], a pharmaceutically acceptable salt
thereof or a derivative thereof, ##STR24## wherein R.sup.4 and
R.sup.5 have the same meanings as in formula [6] (claim 60); the
compound according to claim 60 wherein R.sup.5 represents a
hydroxyl group, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a
derivative thereof (claim 61); the compound according to claim 60
or 61 wherein R.sup.4 represents a carboxyl group, a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a derivative thereof
(claim 62); a semaphorin inhibitor containing a compound of any of
claims 60-62, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a
derivative thereof, as an active ingredient (claim 63); and a nerve
regeneration promoter containing the semaphorin inhibitor of claim
63 as an active ingredient (claim 64).
[0016] The present invention still further relates to: a compound
represented by formula [16], a pharmaceutically acceptable salt
thereof or a derivative thereof, ##STR25## wherein R.sup.1,
R.sup.2, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 have the same meanings as in formulae
[1] and [6] (claim 65); the compound according to claim 65 wherein
at least one of R.sup.2 and R.sup.5 represents a hydrogen atom, a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a derivative thereof
(claim 66); the compound according to claim 65 wherein R.sup.2 and
R.sup.5 represent a hydroxyl group, a pharmaceutically acceptable
salt thereof or a derivative thereof (claim 67); the compound
according to any of claims 65-67 wherein R.sup.4 represents a
carboxyl group, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a
derivative thereof (claim 68); a semaphorin inhibitor containing a
compound of any of claims 65-68, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt
thereof or a derivative thereof, as an active ingredient (claim
69); and a nerve regeneration promoter containing the semaphorin
inhibitor of claim 69 as an active ingredient (claim 70).
[0017] The present invention still further relates to: a preventive
or a remedy for neuropathic diseases and/or neurodegenerative
diseases containing the nerve regeneration promoter of any of
claims 1-17, 26, 40, 59, 64 or 70 (claim 71); the preventive or the
remedy for neuropathic diseases and/or neurodegenerative diseases
according to claim 71, wherein said neuropathic diseases and/or
neurodegenerative diseases are accompanied with a spinal nerve
injury and/or a peripheral nerve injury (claim 72); the preventive
or the remedy for neuropathic diseases and/or neurodegenerative
diseases according to claim 71, wherein said neuropathic diseases
and/or neurodegenerative diseases are olfactory abnormality,
traumatic neuropathy, cerebral infarctional neuropathy, facial
nerve paralysis, diabetic neuropathy, glaucoma, retinitis
pigmentosa, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease,
neurodegenerative diseases, muscular hypoplastic lateral sclerosis,
Lou Gehrig's disease, Huntington's chorea, cerebral infarction or
traumatic neurodegenerative diseases (claim 73); a process for
producing the compound according to any of claims 27-32, wherein
the process comprises cultivating a compound-producing fungus of
any of claims 27-32 which belongs to the genus Penicillium and
collecting said compound from the culture (claim 74); the process
for producing the compound according to any of claims 41-47,
wherein the process comprises cultivating a compound-producing
fungus of any of claims 41-47 which belongs to the genus
Penicillium and collecting said compound from the culture (claim
75); the process for producing the compound according to any of
claims 48-57, wherein the process comprises cultivating a
compound-producing fungus of any of claims 48-57 which belongs to
the genus Penicillium and collecting said compound from the culture
(claim 76); the process for producing the compound according to any
of claims 60-62, wherein the process comprises cultivating a
compound-producing fungus of any of claims 60-62 which belongs to
the genus Penicillium and collecting said compound from the culture
(claim 77); the process for producing the compound according to any
of claims 65-68, wherein the process comprises cultivating a
compound-producing fungus of any of claims 65-68 which belongs to
the genus Penicillium and collecting said compound from the culture
(claim 78); the production process according to any of claims
74-78, wherein the producing fungus which belongs to the genus
Penicillium is Penicillium sp. SPF-3059 (claim 79); and Penicillium
sp. SPF-3059 (FERM BP-7663) or a fungus strain induced from said
SPF-3059 (claim 80).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 shows the concentration-dependent inhibitory action
of the semaphorin inhibitors of the present invention, SPF-3059-1,
M162 and A721, on the growth cone collapse activity of Sema3A.
[0019] FIG. 2 shows the concentration-dependent inhibitory action
of the semaphorin inhibitors of the present invention, SPF-3059-1,
SPF-3059-2 and SPF-3059-5, on the growth cone collapse activity of
Sema3A.
[0020] FIG. 3 shows the concentration-dependent inhibitory action
of the semaphorin inhibitor SPF-3059-1 of the present invention on
the growth cone collapse activity of Sema6C.
[0021] FIG. 4 is photographs showing inhibitory action of the
semaphorin inhibitors of the present invention, SPF-3059-1, M162
and A721, on the neurite outgrowth inhibitory activity of Sema3A in
the collagen-gel co-culture method.
[0022] FIG. 5 shows the in vivo nerve-regeneration promoting action
of the semaphorin inhibitor SPF-3059-1 of the present invention in
the olfactory nerve incision.
[0023] FIG. 6 shows the in vivo nerve-regeneration promoting action
of the semaphorin inhibitors M162 and A721 of the present invention
in the olfactory nerve incision.
[0024] FIG. 7 shows the nerve-regeneration promoting action of the
semaphorin inhibitor SPF-3059-1 of the present invention in the
sciatic nerve wound.
[0025] FIG. 8 shows the result of examining influence of the
semaphorin inhibitor SPF-3059-1 of the present invention on the
proliferation of COS7 cells.
[0026] FIG. 9 shows the result of examining influence of the
semaphorin inhibitor SPF-3059-1 of the present invention on the
semaphorin 3A receptor (Neuropilin-1) binding.
[0027] FIG. 10 shows the result of examining that the target
molecule of the semaphorin inhibitor SPF-3059-1 of the present
invention is semaphorin 3A.
[0028] FIG. 11 is photographs showing the results of examining the
in viva nerve-regeneration promoting action of the semaphorin
inhibitor SPF-3059-1 of the present invention in the spinal nerve
(cerebral cortex-spinal cord pathway) incision.
[0029] FIG. 12 is photographs showing the results of examining the
in viva nerve-regeneration promoting action of PBS as a control in
the spinal nerve (cerebral cortex-spinal cord pathway)
incision.
BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0030] There is no particular limitation to a nerve regeneration
promoter of the present invention as long as the promoter contains
an inhibitor for a nerve outgrowth-repelling factor such as
semaphorin or the like as an active ingredient. Here, semaphorin is
a generic name for proteins that have semaphorin domains with
similar structures consisting of about 500 amino acid residues
(Neuron 14, 941-948, 1995), and approximately 20 variants or more
have been reported to date. In the present invention, however,
semaphorins will not be limited to these publicly known. The
following can be exemplified as such semaphorins: semaphorins of
mammals such as human, etc.; preferably class 3, 4, 5 or 6
semaphorins as defined in the literature (Cell 97, 551, 1999); more
preferably class 3 or 6 semaphorins; and most preferably semaphorin
3A (Cell 75, 217, 1993, Cell 75, 1389, 1993) in class 3 semaphorins
and semaphorin 6C (WO98/11216, Moll. Cell. Neurosci. 13, 9-23
(1999)) in class 6 semaphorins. As sequence information regarding
genes encoding these semaphorins is disclosed in GenBank data base,
the aforementioned literatures or the like, cDNA encoding
semaphorin can be cloned according to the said sequence information
and by using, for example, a brain-derived cDNA library or the like
with an appropriate portion of DNA as a probe for hybridization or
as a primer for PCR. Those skilled in the art can easily perform
these cloning according to basic protocols such as Molecular
Cloning 2nd Ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press (1989), etc.
Besides, proteins can be produced according to various textbooks
and literatures such as the aforementioned Molecular Cloning or the
like by expressing a gene encoding the semaphorin thus obtained.
Further, semaphorin of the present invention will not be limited
only to a natural or a recombinant protein but also includes: a
protein in which the extracellular domain of a membrane-bound
semaphorin is expressed and solubilized; a fusion protein with
other protein such as an antibody, alkaline phosphatase or the
like; a protein to which a tag such as His-tag, Flag or the like is
added; or a mutant in which part of amino acids are deleted,
substituted or added.
[0031] For example, semaphorin 6C (Sema6C) is a membrane-bound
protein and the extracellular domain of Sema6C is usually used such
as for measuring the activity of a subject substance by utilizing
promoting or suppressing actions of Sema6C activities. Two isoforms
are known in the extracellular domain of Sema6C (WO98/11216 and
Moll. Cell. Neurosci. 13, 9-23 (1999)), each of which has the
growth cone collapse activity. A fusion protein in which the
extracellular domain of said Sema6C and a marker protein and/or a
peptide tag are bound can be advantageously used for such cases of
measuring the activity of a subject substance as long as the
activity of Sema6C is not impaired. Examples of marker proteins are
conventionally well known marker proteins such as alkaline
phosphatase (Cell 63, 185-194 (1990)), Fc region of an antibody
(Genbank accession number M87789), HRP and the like, and peptide
tags are exemplified by conventionally well known Mic-tag, His-tag,
Flag-tag and the like.
[0032] In the present invention, a semaphorin inhibitor means a
substance which inhibits an activity of any one of the
aforementioned semaphorins such as, for instance, migration
activity of a cell, cell death-inducing activity, morphological
changes of a cell such as cell rounding or growth cone collapsing,
suppressing or promoting activity for neurite outgrowth,
suppressing or promoting activity for dendrite outgrowth of nerve
cells, nerve axon guidance activity or the like. Any substance
inhibiting the foregoing semaphorin activities can be adopted as
said semaphorin inhibitor without particular limitation.
Preferably, a compound having promoting action on central and/or
peripheral nerve regeneration, more preferably a compound having
suppressing action on the growth cone collapse activity and/or the
nerve outgrowth inhibitory activity in a collagen gel, and even
more preferably a compound having suppressing action on both growth
cone collapse activity of semaphorin and nerve outgrowth inhibitory
activity in a collagen gel are exemplified.
[0033] The above described promoting action on the central and/or
peripheral nerve regeneration refers go an action which promotes
nerve regeneration in the central nervous system (tissue)
comprising such as brain, spinal cord and the like, and/or in the
peripheral nervous system (tissue) which are in organs on body
surface or in the body that consist the marginal and peripheral
portions and not the said central nervous system (tissue). Here,
promoting action on the central nerve regeneration includes
promoting action not only on the nerve regeneration wherein an axon
emerges from a nerve cell body in the central region, such as a
retinal nerve or a cerebral cortex nerve, and is projected on other
nerve cell which is also in the central, but also on the nerve
regeneration wherein a nerve axon is regenerated in the central
nervous system (tissue) circumstance even when a nerve, such as an
afferent fiber of an olfactory nerve or a dorsal root ganglion
sensory nerve, emerges from a nerve cell body in the peripheral.
Further, promoting action on the peripheral nerve regeneration
includes promoting action not only on the nerve regeneration of a
nerve which emerges from a peripheral nerve cell body and extends
in a peripheral tissue, but also on the nerve regeneration wherein
the circumstance for regeneration is the peripheral nervous system
(tissue) even when a nerve is emerged from a central nerve cell
body (brain, spinal cord or the like). The latter can be
exemplified by the nerve-regeneration promoting action for such as
a spinal cord motor nerve, a preganglionic nerve in the autonomic
nervous systems like sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves, and
the like. Promoting action on regeneration of a nerve such as a
sciatic nerve, which has both nerves mentioned above, is also
included in the exemplification. A compound with promoting action
on the central and peripheral nerve regeneration is particularly
preferable for a semaphorin inhibitor of the present invention. The
central nervous system (tissue) described earlier refers to a
tissue comprising brain, medulla oblongata, spinal cord, eye and
the like, and more particularly refers to a region where the
transport of polymer substances is restricted by structures such as
the blood-brain barrier and the blood-retina barrier. The
peripheral nervous system (tissue) refers to the region of the
other parts of the body. Nerve fibers are in general capable of
regenerating in the peripheral nervous tissues, but they are unable
to regenerate in the central nervous tissues.
[0034] The growth cone collapse activity of semaphorin described
above means an activity to make growth cones disappear. This
activity is observed after performing the following steps:
cultivating nerve cells (generally tissue explants of ganglions)
for a given period of time in vitro until the extended neurites as
well as the growth cones at the edge of said neurites can be
observed; and then adding thereto a given concentration (e.g. about
3 unit/ml; 1 unit/ml is defined as a semaphorin concentration in
which 50% of the growth cones are collapsed) of semaphorin and
cultivating for another given period of time (e.g. one hour). In
order to get the extended neurites and the growth cones at the edge
of said neurites ready for the observation, the nerve cells are
generally cultivated for 10 to 20 hours in vitro, which duration
can be altered according to a nerve variant and culture conditions.
When the growth cone collapse caused by semaphorin is suppressed
by, for example, the addition of a compound to this experimental
system at an appropriate concentration about one hour prior to the
addition of semaphorin, then such compound is regarded as a
semaphorin inhibitor, especially as a compound with suppressing
action on the growth cone collapse activity of semaphorin. Although
there is no particular limitation to a compound with such
suppressing action on the growth cone collapse activity, compounds
can be exemplified which exhibit the said suppressing action at a
concentration of 100 .mu.g/ml or below, preferably 30 .mu.g/ml or
below, more preferably 10 .mu.g/ml or below, and most preferably 3
.mu.g/ml or below. Further, a compound which does not substantially
affect proliferation of the cells such as nerve cells,
semaphorin-expressing cells or the like is preferable as a
semaphorin inhibitor in order to confirm the effect of semaphorin
inhibitors of the present invention and in view of safety when used
as a pharmaceutical.
[0035] The nerve outgrowth inhibitory activity of semaphorin in a
collagen gel as described above means, for instance, the neurite
outgrowth inhibitory activity observed in a collagen gel which
contains, for example, both semaphorin-producing cells and nerve
cells (usually ganglions). And suppressing action of said neurite
outgrowth inhibitory activity is an activity to persistently
inhibit the semaphorin activity in a collagen gel, and, for
instance, is an activity by which neurites can outgrow to the side
of semaphorin-producing cells as much as 1/2 or more of the
outgrowth observed at the opposite side in the presence of the
object substance under the experimental condition where neurites
can only outgrow up to 1/3 or less to semaphorin producing cells
compared with the growth observed at the opposite side of the
semaphorin-producing cells when observed after cultivating
semaphorin-producing cells and nerve cells adjacently in a collagen
gel, usually for overnight or even longer. Further, there is no
particular limitation to a compound with suppressing action on the
neurite outgrowth inhibitory activity of semaphorin in said
collagen gel. However, those exhibiting the foregoing suppressing
action at a concentration of 100 .mu.g/ml or less, preferably 30
.mu.g/ml or less, more preferably 10 .mu.g/ml or less and most
preferably 3 .mu.g/ml or less are exemplified.
[0036] Semaphorin used for measuring the two types of semaphorin
activities mentioned above is not limited to a natural semaphorin
and the following semaphorins described earlier can be used as
well: semaphorin in which only the extracellular domain of a
membrane-binding semaphorin is expressed and solubilized; a fusion
protein with other protein such as an antibody, alkaline
phosphotase or the like; semaphorin to which a tag such as a
His-tag or a Flag is added; or semaphorin in which some amino acids
are altered. Further, dorsal root ganglions from chick embryos of 7
or 8 embryonic days are conveniently used as nerve cells for the
culture. However, dorsal root ganglions of animals other than
chicks, or any other nerve cells such as sympathetic ganglions,
retinal ganglions, superior cervical ganglions or the like other
than dorsal root ganglions may also be used as long as the nerve
cells are capable of extending their neurites in the in vitro
culture. There is no particular limitation to the culture condition
as long as neurite outgrowth can be observed and semaphorin
activities can be measured.
[0037] The action mechanism of the semaphorin inhibitors of the
present invention can be considered as follows. The neurite
outgrowth inhibition or the growth cone collapse caused by
semaphorin is triggered by binding of semaphorin to its receptor on
the nerve cell surface (growth cone). The signal is transmitted
from the receptor to which semaphorin is bound to the intracellular
signaling pathway and depolymerization of actin fibers is finally
raised, which as a result gives rise to the neurite outgrowth
suppression and the growth cone collapse. Inhibition of semaphorin
activity is achieved by inhibiting or blocking any of the steps in
the course of these reactions. As the above-mentioned receptor for
semaphorin, a receptor for any of the foregoing semaphorins may be
adopted, and a mutant or a component of a part of such receptor may
also be adopted provided that semaphorin can bind to it. The
examples are Neuropilin-1, plexin and the like. The semaphorin
inhibitors of the present invention will not be restricted by their
action mechanisms and an inhibitor which inhibits any one of the
steps in the above-described action mechanism is included in the
category of the present invention. That is to say, a compound is
also included in the category of the present invention, when the
compound inhibits semaphorin activity by inhibiting the reactions
concerning the intracellular signaling pathway which takes place
from the aforementioned receptor-binding of semaphorin to the
depolymerization of actin fibers. Besides, a method of measuring
the receptor-binding inhibitory activity of semaphorin can be any
method if appropriately selected by those skilled in the art, which
is exemplified by a method of measuring the receptor-binding
inhibitory activity of semaphorin wherein semaphorin fused with
other protein such as an antibody, alkaline phosphatase or the like
or semaphorin to which His-tag, Flag or the like is added, as
described earlier, is bound to a receptor of said semaphorin or to
a cell which expresses a receptor component in the presence of a
subject substance.
[0038] For example, the inhibitory activity of SPF-3059-1 for the
binding of Sema3A to Neuropilin-1 was actually examined by using
the alkaline phosphatase-fused Sema3A (=Sema3A-AP) and
Neuropilin-1-expressing COS7 cells. SPF-3059-1 is a compound
discovered by the present inventors, which inhibits both collapse
and neurite outgrowth inhibition induced by semaphorin 3A (Sema3A).
The present study revealed that SPF-3059-1 inhibits the binding of
Sema3A-AP to Neuropilin-1 in a concentration-dependent manner.
Further, in order to elucidate the mechanism of the said
inhibition, that is, in order to elucidate whether SPF-3059-1
interacts with Sema3A or with its receptor, the comparison was made
by measuring collapse activity between (1) the collapse activity
which was observed when a sample, to which SPF-3059-1 and Sema3A
were mixed in advance at the concentration raising sufficient
inhibitory activity (0.25 .mu.g/ml of SPF-3059-1), was added to the
culture solution of dorsal root ganglions and (2) the collapse
activity which was observed when Sema3A was added to the
above-mentioned culture solution after the addition of SPF-3059-1.
The final concentration of SPF-3059-1 (0.05 .mu.g/ml) in the
culture solution was the same both for (1) and (2). Inhibition of
collapse activity was not observed in (2) at this concentration of
SPF-3059-1. However in (1), inhibition of collapse activity was
observed. This result indicates that Sema3A has lost its collapse
activity because SPF-3059-1 interacted with it. From the above
considerations, SPF-3059-1 is thought to act by a mechanism in
which the binding of Sema3A to the receptor is inhibited by the
direct action of SPF-3059-1 on Sema3A. When this finding is
considered, a compound which inhibits the binding of semaphorin to
its receptor by interacting directly with the semaphorin and which
inhibits the function and the activity of the semaphorin is
preferable for a semaphorin inhibitor of the present invention. A
semaphorin inhibitor, particularly a compound which inhibits the
function of semaphorin by interacting with it, can be screened by
the above mentioned methods of measuring the collapse activity or
the receptor-binding inhibitory activity, or the like.
[0039] A preferable compound for the semaphorin inhibitor of the
present invention is a compound where the semaphorin inhibitor will
not substantially affect cell proliferation, i.e. a compound not
showing the suppressing action on cell proliferation, for example,
a compound which does not show the suppressing action on cell
proliferation at a concentration which is 50-3000 folds or higher
than the concentration at which the semaphorin inhibitory activity
can be observed. Further, although there is no particular
limitation to molecular weight of semaphorin inhibitors of the
present invention, a compound with a low molecular weight is
desirable in view of diffusibility, membrane permeability, tissue
distribution, especially blood-brain barrier permeability or the
like, and suitable examples include a low molecular weight compound
with a molecular weight of 10000 or less, preferably a molecular
weight of 5000 or less, more preferably a molecular weight of 1000
or less and particularly a compound with a molecular weight of 600
or less. Still further, as for semaphorin inhibitors of the present
invention, non-peptide and non-nucleotide compounds can be
exemplified. Said non-peptide and non-nucleotide compounds are
exemplified by an aliphatic synthesized compound M162, an
actinomycete-derived compound A721, and most preferably, compounds
obtained from the culture of Penicillium sp. SPF-3059 which is
described later.
[0040] An example of the above-mentioned compounds obtained from
the culture of Penicillium sp. SPF,-3059 is a compound with
semaphorin inhibitory activity which contains in its chemical
structure a group represented by the above-mentioned general
formulae [1], [2], [4] or [5] and/or a group represented by the
above-mentioned general formula [6] or [7], preferably a compound
represented by the above-mentioned general formula [8] and more
preferably a compound represented by the above-mentioned general
formula either [12] to [16]. In the general formulae [1], [2], [4],
[9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14] and [16] in these compounds,
R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, a carboxyl group or an
alkoxycarbonyl group, preferably a hydrogen atom or a carboxyl
group, and a methoxycarbonyl group, an ethoxycarbonyl group, a
propoxycarbonyl group and the like are exemplified as the
above-mentioned alkoxycarbonyl group, among which a methoxycarbonyl
group is preferable. Particularly, R.sup.1 in the general formulae
[1], [4], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13] and [16] preferably represent
a hydrogen atom or a carboxyl group and R.sup.1 in the general
formulae [2] and [14] preferably represent a hydrogen atom, a
carboxyl group or a methoxycarbonyl group where a hydrogen atom or
a carboxyl group is more preferable. Similarly, R.sup.2 in the
general formulae [1], [2], [4], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14]
and [16] represent a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group or an acyloxy
group, preferably a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group. As the
above-mentioned acyloxygroup, an acetoxygroup, a propionyloxy
group, a pivaloyloxy group and the like is exemplified as the
above-mentioned acyloxy group. R.sup.3 in the general formulae [2]
and [14] represent a hydrogen atom, a methoxymethyl group or a
group shown by the formula [3]. R.sup.4 in the general formulae
[6], [7], [8], [12], [13], [14], [15] and [16] represent a hydrogen
atom, a carboxyl group or an alkoxycarbonyl group, preferably a
hydrogen atom or a carboxyl group. The examples of the
above-mentioned alkoxycarbonyl group are a methoxycarbonyl group,
an ethoxycarbonyl group, a propoxycarbonyl group and the like,
among which a methoxycarbonyl group is preferable. Similarly,
R.sup.5 in the general formulae [6], [7], [8], [12], [13], [14],
[15] and [16] represent a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group or an
acyloxy group, preferably a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group. And
an acetoxy group, a propionyloxy group, a pivaloyloxy group and the
like is exemplified as the above-mentioned acyloxy group. As to
R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 in the general formula [8], (1) when R.sup.6
represents a methyl group, R.sup.7 represents a group shown by the
formulae [2], [9] or [10] and (2) when R.sup.6 represents a group
shown by the formula [5] or [11], R.sup.7 represents an acetyl
group.
[0041] A compound having a group represented by the above-mentioned
general formulae [1], [2], [4] or [5] and/or a group represented by
the general formula [6] or [7] in the molecule as described above,
preferably a compound represented by the above-mentioned general
formula [8] and particularly a compound represented by the
above-mentioned general formulae [12] to [16] can be obtained from
the culture of Penicillium sp. SPF-3059 with the semaphorin
inhibitory activity as an index. Moreover, such compound can also
be obtained from the compound with semaphorin inhibitory activity
thus obtained or the like by known converting and synthetic methods
with the semaphorin inhibitory activity as an index. Compounds
which constitute semaphorin inhibitors of the present invention are
exemplified by those shown by the formulae [17]-[37] which are
described later in the Examples in this description, and are more
specifically exemplified by: the compounds represented by the
general formula [12] which is shown by the formulae [17], [20],
[23], [24] and [32]; the compounds represented by the general
formula [13] shown by the formulae [18], [19], [21], [25], [26],
[27] and [28]; the compounds represented by the general formula
[14] shown by the formulae [22], [30], [31], [34], [36] and [37];
the compounds represented by the general formula [15] shown by the
formulae [29] and [35]; and the compounds represented by the
general formula [16] shown by the formula [33]. These compounds
specifically exemplified in the above are novel compounds except
for the following: the compound SPF-3059-1 shown by the formula
[17] (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No.1993-239050); the
compound SPF-3059-2 shown by the formula [18] (Pure & Appl.
Chem. 66, 2383-2386, 1994); and the compound SPF-3059-5 shown by
the formula [19] (Pure & Appl. Chem. 66, 2383-2386, 1994, and
Published Japanese translation of PCT international publication
No.1994-506202).
[0042] Further, in the compounds which constitute semaphorin
inhibitors of the present invention, salts or derivatives of the
compounds, preferably pharmaceutically or veterinary
pharmaceutically acceptable salts or derivatives will also be
included in the category of the present invention. The examples of
salts are: inorganic basic salts such as sodium salt, potassium
salt, calcium salt, magnesium salt, aluminum salt, ammonium salt or
the like; organic basic salts such as triethylammonium salt,
triethanolammonium salt, pyridinium salt, diisopropylammonium salt
or the like; basic amino acid salts such as arginine salt, lysine
salt or the like. The derivatives are exemplified those in which
the carboxyl group or the hydroxyl group of a compound is converted
to an ester group where the examples include a derivative in which
the hydroxyl group is acylated by an acyl group with 2 to 5 carbons
such as an acetyl group, a propionyl group or the like, and a
derivative in which the carboxyl group is converted to esters with
2 to 5 carbons such as methylester, ethylester, or the like.
[0043] Examples of a compound of the present invention, preferably
a compound having semaphorin inhibitory activity and particularly a
compound obtained from the culture of Penicillium sp. SPF-3059 and
having semaphorin inhibitory activity include a compound wherein at
least one of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 in the
above-mentioned general formula [12] (wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2,
R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are as described earlier) is represented by a
hydrogen atom, preferably a compound wherein at least one of
R.sup.2 and R.sup.5 represents a hydroxyl group, for instance, a
compound in which R.sup.2 represents a hydroxyl group (a compound
in which R.sup.2 and R.sup.5 represent a hydroxyl group and a
hydrogen atom, respectively, etc.), a compound in which R.sup.2 and
R.sup.5 represent a hydroxyl group, the above-mentioned compound in
which R.sup.4 represents a carboxyl group and the above-mentioned
compound in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.4 represent a carboxyl group
and R.sup.2 represents a hydroxyl group and the like. It is
specifically exemplified by the compound SPF-3059-3 shown by the
formula [20], the compound SPF-3059-7 shown by [23], the compound
SPF-3059-9 shown by [24] and the compound SPF-3059-30 shown by
[32]. Compounds of the present invention also include
pharmaceutically acceptable salts or derivatives of the compound
represented by the above-mentioned general formula [12].
[0044] Examples of a compound of the present invention, preferably
a compound having semaphorin inhibitory activity, and particularly
a compound obtained from the culture of Penicillium sp. SPF-3059
and having semaphorin inhibitory activity include a compound
wherein at least one of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.5 in the
above-mentioned general formula [13] (wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2,
R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are as described earlier) is represented by a
hydrogen atom, preferably a compound wherein at least one of
R.sup.2 and R.sup.5 represents a hydroxyl group, for instance, a
compound in which R.sup.2 represents a hydroxyl group (a compound
in which R.sup.2 and R.sup.5 represent a hydroxyl group and a
hydrogen atom, respectively, etc.), a compound in which R.sup.2 and
R.sup.5 represent a hydroxyl group, the above-mentioned compound in
which R.sup.4 represents a carboxyl group and the above-mentioned
compound in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.4 represent a carboxyl group
and R.sup.5 represents a hydroxyl group and the like. It is more
specifically exemplified by the compound SPF-3059-4 shown by the
formula [21], the compound SPF-3059-12 shown by [25], the compound
SPF-3059-24 shown by [26], the compound SPF-3059-25 shown by [27]
and the compound SPF-3059-26 shown by [28]. Compounds of the
present invention also include pharmaceutically acceptable salts or
derivatives of the compound represented by the above-mentioned
general formula [13].
[0045] Examples of a compound of the present invention, preferably
a compound having semaphorin inhibitory activity and particularly a
compound obtained from the culture of Penicillium sp. SPF-3059 and
having semaphorin inhibitory activity include a compound
represented by the above-mentioned general formula [14] (wherein
R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are as described
earlier), preferably a compound in which at least one of R.sup.2
and R.sup.5 is represented by a hydroxyl group, for instance, a
compound in which R.sup.2 represents a hydroxyl group (a compound
in which R.sup.2 and R.sup.5 represent a hydroxyl group and a
hydrogen atom, respectively, etc.), a compound in which R.sup.2 and
R.sup.5 represent a hydroxyl group, the above-mentioned compound in
which R.sup.4 represents a carboxyl group, a compound in which
R.sup.1 and R.sup.4 represent a carboxyl group and R.sup.2 and
R.sup.5 represent a hydroxyl group, a compound in which R.sup.1
represents a carboxyl group, R.sup.2 and R.sup.5 represent a
hydroxyl group and R.sup.3 represents methoxymethyl group, a
compound in which R.sup.1 represents either a carboxyl group or a
methoxycarbonyl group, R.sup.4 represents a carboxyl group, R.sup.3
represents a hydrogen atom and R.sup.5 represents a hydroxyl group,
especially a compound in which R.sup.1 represents either a carboxyl
group or a methoxycarbonyl group, R.sup.4 represents a carboxyl
group, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 represent a hydrogen atom and R.sup.5
represents a hydroxyl group, a compound in which R.sup.3 represents
a group shown by the above-mentioned formula [3], and so on. It is
more specifically exemplified by the compound SPF-3059-6 shown by
the formula [22], the compound SPF-3059-28 shown by [30], the
compound SPF-3059-29 shown by [31], the compound SPF-3059-35 shown
by [34], the compound SPF-3059-37 shown by [36], and the compound
SPF-3059-39 shown by [37]. Compounds of the present invention also
include pharmaceutically acceptable salts or derivatives of the
compound represented by the above-mentioned general formula
[14].
[0046] Examples of a compound of the present invention, preferably
a compound having semaphorin inhibitory activity, and particularly
a compound obtained from the culture of Penicillium sp. SPF-3059
and having semaphorin inhibitory activity include a compound
represented by the above-mentioned general formula [15] (wherein
R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are the same as described earlier), preferably
a compound in which R.sup.5 represents a hydroxyl group, the
above-mentioned compound in which R.sup.4 represents a carboxyl
group and the like. It is more specifically exemplified by the
compound SPF-3059-27 shown by the formula [29] and the compound
SPF-3059-36 shown by [35]. Compounds of the present invention also
include pharmaceutically acceptable salts or derivatives of the
compound represented by the above-mentioned general formula
[15].
[0047] Examples of a compound of the present invention, preferably
a compound having semaphorin inhibitory activity, and particularly
a compound obtained from the culture of Penicillium sp. SPF-3059
and having semaphorin inhibitory activity include a compound
represented by the above-mentioned general formula [16] (wherein
R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are the same as described
earlier), preferably a compound wherein at least one of R.sup.2 and
R.sup.5 represents a hydroxyl group, especially a compound in which
R.sup.2 and R.sup.5 represent a hydroxyl group, the above-mentioned
compound in which R.sup.4 represents a carboxyl group and the like.
It is more specifically exemplified by the compound SPF-3059-34
shown by the formula [33]. Compounds of the present invention also
include pharmaceutically acceptable salts or derivatives of the
compound represented by the above-mentioned general formula
[16].
[0048] A compound having a group represented by the above-mentioned
general formulae [1], [2], [4] or [5] and/or a group represented by
the above-mentioned general formula [6] or [7] in the molecule and
having semaphorin inhibitory activity, preferably a compound
represented by the above-mentioned general formula [8], more
preferably a compound represented by the above-mentioned general
formula [12] to [16], more specifically compounds constituting the
semaphorin inhibitors of the present invention shown by the
above-mentioned formulae [17] to [37], etc., all these compounds
can be effectively obtained by cultivating the fungal strain
SPF-3059 which belongs to the genus Penicillium. The strain was
isolated by the present inventors from a soil sample collected in
Osaka Prefecture, Japan. The strain SPF-3059 possesses the
following taxonomical characteristics. [0049] (a) Cultural and
Morphological Characteristics
[0050] On malt extract agar, colonies grew slowly attaining a
diameter of 2.8 to 2.9 cm in 21 days at 25.degree. C. The colonies
were white to yellow and floccose in appearance. The reverse side
color was dark yellow. Neither soluble pigment production nor spore
formation was observed. On potato dextrose agar, colonies grew
slowly attaining a diameter of 3.2 to 3.3 cm in 21 days at
25.degree. C. The colonies were white to cream yellow and floccose
in appearance. The reverse side color was dark yellow to brown.
Neither soluble pigment production nor spore formation was
observed. On Czapek agar, colonies grew slowly attaining a diameter
of 3.1 to 3.2 cm in 21 days at 25.degree. C. The colonies were
white to gray and floccose in appearance. The reverse side color
was cream yellow. Neither soluble pigment production nor spore
formation was observed. On oatmeal agar (Actino Medium No. 3
"DAIGO", Nihon Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.), colonies grew slowly
attaining a diameter of 2.0 to 2.1 cm in 21 days at 25.degree. C.
The colonies were white to yellow or grayish green and floccose in
appearance. The reverse side color was cream yellow to gray.
Soluble pigment was not produced but spore formation was observed.
The conidiophores were smooth-walled with a length of 5 to 20
.mu.m, and generated 3 to 6 phialides in a monoverticillate manner
at the end of the stipes. On the top of the phialides, which had a
length of 3 to 4 .mu.m, conidia were formed in a chain form, with 2
to 10 conidia per chain. The conidia are globose with a diameter of
2.2 to 2.4 .mu.m with striated surface (in general, 10 longitudinal
lines on the surface). Teleomorph was not observed. [0051] (b)
Physiological Characteristics [0052] (1) pH Range for Growth
[0053] Growth was examined in shaking culture using Sabouraud
broth. Observation was made after cultivation for 3 days at
27.degree. C. The result was as follows: TABLE-US-00001 pH Growth
3.1 - 4.5 + 5.5 ++ 7.1 +++ 8.0 ++ 9.0 .+-. 10.0 -
[0054] (2) Temperature Range for Growth
[0055] Growth was examined using oatmeal agar. Observation was made
after incubation for 5 days at 38.degree. C. The result was that
the strain grew at the temperature.
[0056] Based on the above taxonomical characteristics, the strain
was identified as a strain of the genus Penicillium and was named
Penicillium sp. SPF-3059. The said strain was deposited on Jul. 13,
2001 to the International Patent Organism Depositary, the National
Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Japan (1-1
Higashi 1-chome, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8566, Japan) under the
accession number FERM BP-7663 as the International Deposition
Number under the Budapest Treaty on the international recognition
of the deposit of microorganisms for the purpose of patent
procedure.
[0057] According to the present invention, the cultivation for the
production of the said semaphorin inhibitors by the strain SPF-3059
can be carried out in a nutrient medium. The nutrient medium may
either be liquid or solid. Shaking culture or submerged culture
with aeration is preferable. The composition of the medium may be
varied over a wide range. No particular limitation is assigned to
medium composition for use. Essentially, what is required is a
carbon source, and a nitrogen source. Trace inorganic elements can
also be added. Examples of suitable carbon sources are glucose,
sucrose, glycerin, starch, dextrin, molasses or the like. Examples
of suitable nitrogen sources are peptone, casein or its
hydrolyzate, meat extract, yeast extract, soy bean flour, cotton
seed flour, corn steep liquor, amino acids such as histidine,
ammonium salts, nitrate salts or the like. Examples of sources of
suitable inorganic elements are phosphate salts such as sodium
phosphate and potassium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, sodium
chloride, potassium chloride, calcium carbonate or the like.
Inorganic elements can also be added to a medium to adjust osmotic
pressure, adjust pH, supplement trace elements or the like.
Moreover, various additives such as vitamins, nucleic acids or the
like may be added to the medium for promoting the growth of the
producing strain. It is also possible to add an antifoam agent such
as silicon oil, polypropylene glycol derivative, soy bean oil or
the like during the culture period. A preferred temperature range
for the culture is preferably 20 to 35.degree. C., more preferably
25 to 30.degree. C., and preferable pH of the medium is, for
instance, those ranging around neutral, and the culture period is,
for instance, a span of 5 to 10 days.
[0058] For recovery of the semaphorin inhibitors of the present
invention, shown by the above-mentioned formula [17] to [37], from
the fermentation broth after the cultivation, there may be adopted
any conventional methods as adopted for isolation and purification
of secondary metabolites produced by microorganisms. These methods
include solvent extraction, ion-exchange chromatography, adsorption
chromatography, partition chromatography, gel filtration
chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), thin
layer chromatography and the like. These isolation and purification
methods may be adopted either alone or in combination. To obtain
the object compounds from the culture supernatant, these isolation
and purification methods can be adopted. In addition, when the
object compounds are within the cultured fungal mycelium, the
mycelium can be collected by the means of such as filtration or
centrifugation and can be extracted directly by using a
water-soluble organic solvent such as acetone, methanol or the
like. Then a compound of interest can be obtained from the extract
by the similar methods described above. Said compound of interest
also can be converted to a salt by adding an appropriate amount of
base in solvents such as water, methanol, ethanol, acetone, ethyl
acetate, chloroform, ether or the like. Moreover, a hydroxyl group
can be acylated, a carboxyl group can be esterificated in said
compound of interest by the conventional methods. For instance, a
hydroxyl group can be acylated by the addition of an acylation
agent such as acetic anhydride, acetyl chloride or the like in an
appropriate organic solvent and in the presence of bases.
Alternatively, a carboxyl group can be esterificated by using alkyl
halide such as methyl iodide, ethyl bromide or the like in an
appropriate organic solvent and in the presence of bases. As for
said organic solvents, acetone, ethyl acetate, chloroform, ether,
DMF, pyridine or the like can be exemplified. As for bases,
triethylamine, pyridine, potassium carbonate or the like can be
exemplified.
[0059] Further, M162 or A721, which are described in the Examples,
are also exemplified as other semaphorin inhibitors of the present
invention. M162 is an aliphatic compound with a weak ultra violet
adsorption, whereas A721 is a natural product isolated from the
cultured broth of an actinomycete strain having a molecular weight
of 437 and the maximum UV-visible absorption spectrum .lamda. max
(in methanol) at 397 nm. Considering these, M162 and A721 are
low-molecular weight compounds whose chemical structures are
totally different from those of the compounds shown by the
above-mentioned formulae [17]-[37] and the like.
[0060] There is no specific limitation as to preventives or
remedies of the present invention for neuropathic diseases and/or
neurodegenerative diseases including spinal nerve injury and/or the
peripheral nerve injury, as long as they contain the nerve
regeneration promoters described earlier which have an inhibitor
for a nerve outgrowth repelling factor, particularly the
above-mentioned semaphorin inhibitors, as an active ingredient. To
said preventives and remedies, various dispensing compositions may
be added such as pharmaceutically acceptable ordinary carriers,
binders, stabilizers, excipients, diluents, pH buffers,
disintegrating agents, solubilizers, dissolving coadjuvants,
isotonic agents or the like. Besides, these preventives and
remedies can be administered either orally or parenterally. In
other words, they can be administered in usual administration
means, for example, they can be orally administered in agent forms
such as powder, granule, capsule, syrup, suspension liquid or the
like, or they can be parenterally administered by injecting in
agent forms such as solution, emulsion, suspension or the like.
Alternatively, they can be nasally administered in the form of
spray agents.
[0061] Although dosage and frequency of administration differ
depending on the method of administration and the age, weight,
medical conditions or the like of a patient, it is preferable to
locally administer to the site of disease. Since it takes several
days to more than several months for nerves to regenerate, the
preventives or the remedies are preferably administered once or
more than twice during that period to suppress semaphorin
activities. When administering twice or more, it is preferable to
administer the preventives or the remedies repeatedly for
consecutive days or at appropriate intervals. Dosage may be defined
as several hundred .mu.g to 2 g per administration in the form of a
semaphorin inhibitor, preferably several dozen mg or less. In order
to reduce the administration frequency, sustained release agents,
an osmotic pump or the like may be used. In any of these
administration methods, it is preferable to adopt an administration
route and method wherein the concentration should reach the
sufficient level to inhibit semaphorin activity at the site of
action.
[0062] The above-mentioned neuropathic diseases and/or
neurodegenerative diseases including spinal nerve injury and/or
peripheral nerve injury means injury or degenerative diseases of
peripheral or central nerves enumerated by: olfactory abnormality
due to aging or the like; nerve injury other than the olfactory
caused by trauma such as spinal cord injury or the like; nerve
damage due to cerebral infarction or the like; facial nerve
paralysis; diabetic neuropathy; glaucoma; retinitis pigmentosa;
neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's
disease and ALS; muscular hypoplastic lateral sclerosis; Lou
Gehrig's disease; Huntington's chorea; cerebral infarction;
traumatic neurodegenerative diseases; and so on. Diseases
accompanied with angiogenesis in which VEGF165 is involved are also
the targets, since VEGF165 also uses neuropilin as its
receptor.
[0063] In addition, application of the nerve regeneration promoters
of the present invention will not be limited to pharmaceuticals
such as preventives or remedies for neuropathic diseases and/or
neurodegenerative diseases, but are also capably applied to
veterinary drugs, or further to industrially important experimental
reagents as semaphorin signaling inhibitors. Because they contain
semaphorin inhibitors as an active ingredient, nerve regeneration
promoters of the present invention promote regeneration of
olfactory nerve which is a peripheral nerve, and promote
regeneration of nerves in the central region, which are olfactory
bulb, cerebral cortex, hippocampus, corpus striatum, thalamus,
diencephalon, mesencephalon, cerebellum, pons, medulla oblongata,
spinal cord, retina and the like.
[0064] The present invention is now explained in detailed with the
examples. The technical scope of the invention, however, will not
be limited to these examples.
EXAMPLE 1
Production of the Compounds, SPF-3059-1, SPF-3059-2, SPF-3059-5
[0065] A 75 ml medium containing 2% glucose, 5% sucrose, 2% cotton
seed powder, 0.1% sodium nitrate, 0.1% L-histidine, 0.05%
dipotassium phosphate, 0.07% potassium chloride and 0.0014%
magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, with its pH adjusted to 7.0, was
pipetted to a Sakaguchi flask of 500 ml-volume and sterilized in an
autoclave. A loopful of Penicillium sp. SPF-3059 (FERM BP-7663) on
slant culture was inoculated into this medium and cultured with
shaking at 130 rpm for 5 days at 27.degree. C. as the pre-culture.
A medium with the same composition as the above-mentioned medium
was pipetted 300 ml each to 10 Sakaguchi flasks of 2 liter-volume
and sterilized in an autoclave. Subsequently, the above mentioned
pre-culture solution was added to these flasks by 6 ml each, which
were then cultured with shaking at 110 rmp for 7 days at 27.degree.
C.
[0066] After the cultivation, the fermentation broth was
centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 10 minutes at 4.degree. C. to
separate the supernatant and the mycelium. The supernatant
fractions were extracted with a 3 L of ethyl acetate-formic acid
(99:1). The mycelium fraction was extracted with 3 liters of
acetone, then filtered and concentrated. After concentrated into
aqueous solution, it was extracted with 1 liter of ethyl
acetate-formic acid (99:1). Both extracts were then mixed and
concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain a 10.4 g of crude
extract. This extract was then dissolved into 100 ml of methanol
and applied to a column chromatography with Sephadex (trade mark)
LH-20 (Amersham Biosciences K.K.), and eluted with methanol. Active
fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated under
reduced pressure to obtain 2.6 g of crude material. This crude
material was then dissolved in 100 ml of methanol for a column
chromatography using TSKgel TOYOPEARL HW-40F (Tosoh Corporation)
and eluted with methanol. The active fractions were collected and
the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure to obtain 1.6 g
of crude substance. This crude substance was then dissolved in 50
mg aliquots in 1 ml of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for a
reversed-phase HPLC. The conditions of the reversed-phase HPLC
were, column: Wakopak.RTM. Wakosil-II5C18RS (connecting 20.times.50
mm and 20.times.250 mm, Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.),
solution A: 1% aqueous formic acid solution, solution B: methanol,
gradient: a linear gradient for 90 min from 35% to 65% for the
proportion of the solution B, flow rate: 5 ml/min, detection:
absorbance at 260 nm. The eluted fractions at 59, 74 and 81 minutes
were collected and the solvent was evaporated under reduced
pressure, and thus the compounds, SPF-3059-5 (34.2 mg), SPF-3059-1
(64.1 mg) and SPF-3059-2 (12.0 mg) were obtained respectively. The
physicochemical properties of these compounds thus obtained are as
follows.
(Compound SPF-3059-1)
Appearance: yellow powder
High Resolution Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum
(HRFAB-MS)m/z(M+H).sup.+:
[0067] Measured value: 579.0772
[0068] Calculated value: 579.0776
Molecular formula: C.sub.28H.sub.18O.sub.14
UV-VISIBLE Absorption Spectrum .lamda..sub.max (in methanol) nm
(a):
[0069] 241(31,600), 315(23,400), 365(16,500)
Infrared Absorption Spectrum .nu..sub.max (KBr) cm.sup.-1:
[0070] 3400, 1701, 1615, 1570, 1457, 1273
.sup.1H-NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d.sub.6) a ppm:
[0071] 2.28, 2.67, 2.69, 4.6-4.7, 5.02, 6.40, 6.91, 7.91, 8.52,
9.33, 11.1-11.6, 12.8
.sup.13C-NMR (125 MHz, DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0072] 16.5, 17.0, 32.4, 56.2, 65.7, 68.0, 102.3, 104.2, 108.8,
110.1, 118.2, 118.5, 120.6, 122.2, 125.8, 127.7, 132.4, 134.9,
137.6, 139.1, 140.7, 140.8, 150.1, 150.2, 152.2, 153.8, 154.5,
156.3, 167.5, 167.6, 172.7, 172.8, 186.3, 199.1, 202.7, 202.9
[0073] Taken together, the structure of SPF-3059-1 was determined
as the following formula [17] (tautomer): ##STR26## (Compound
SPF-3059-2) Appearance: cream-colored powder High Resolution Fast
Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (HRFAB-MS) m/z(M+H).sup.+:
[0074] Measured value: 533.0710
[0075] Calculated value: 533.0721
Molecular formula: C.sub.27H.sub.16O.sub.12
UV-VISIBLE Absorption Spectrum .lamda..sub.max (in methanol) nm
(.epsilon.):
[0076] 209(40,600), 236(42,600), 283(28,500), 323(25,400)
Infrared Absorption Spectrum .nu..sub.max (KBr) cm.sup.-1:
[0077] 3266, 1678, 1654, 1623, 1562, 1471, 1296
.sup.1H-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0078] 2.53(6H,s), 6.93(1H,s), 6.95(1H,s), 7.47(1H,s), 8.15(1H,s),
8.54(1H,s), 9.38(1H,brs), 9.89(1H,brs), 10.78(1H,brs),
11.37(1H,brs), 12.68(1H,brs)
.sup.13C-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0079] 29.1, 32.1, 102.3, 103.1, 108.7, 112.5, 113.5, 119.6, 119.8,
120.9, 126.2, 132.4, 133.6, 136.1, 141.7, 144.5, 150.71, 150.74,
152.49, 152.54, 152.7, 154.4, 167.4, 172.9, 173.4, 199.2, 201.2
[0080] Taken together, the structure of SPF-3059-2 was determined
as the following formula [18]: ##STR27## (Compound SPF-3059-5)
Appearance: cream-colored powder High Resolution Fast Atom
Bombardment Mass Spectrum (HRFAB-MS)m/z(M+H).sup.+:
[0081] Measured value: 577.0615
[0082] Calculated value: 577.0619
Molecular formula: C.sub.28H.sub.16O.sub.14
UV-VISIBLE Absorption Spectrum .lamda..sub.max (in methanol) nm
(.epsilon.):
[0083] 229(35,800), 284(22,600), 322(21,000)
Infrared Absorption Spectrum .nu..sub.max (KBr) cm.sup.-1:
[0084] 3260, 1684, 1626, 1567, 1467, 1288
.sup.1H-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0085] 2.53(3H,s), 2.55(3H,s), 6.93(1H,s), 6.96(1H,s), 8.17(1H,s),
8.53(1H,s), 9.5-13.0(6H)
.sup.13C-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0086] 29.1, 32.1, 102.26, 102.32, 109.9, 112.4, 119.6, 119.8,
120.3, 120.9, 126.3, 132.5, 133.4, 136.2, 141.2, 141.7, 150.4,
150.8, 152.1, 152.68, 152.73, 154.5, 167.4, 167.5, 172.5, 172.9,
199.1, 201.1
[0087] From these results, the structure of SPF-3059-5 was
determined as the following formula [19]: ##STR28##
EXAMPLE 2
Suppressing Action of the Compounds SPF-3059-1, SPF-3059-2,
SPF-3059-5, M162 and A721 of the Present Invention to the Collapse
Activity of Sema3A
[0088] A 96-well plate (Sumitomo Bakelite Co., ltd. ) pre-coated
with polylysine was further coated with laminine (20 .mu.g/ml of
laminine, for 1 hour at room temperature). Each well was added with
100 .mu.l of medium (F12 medium containing 10% bovine fetal serum,
20 ng/ml of NGF, 100 units/ml of penicillin and 100 .mu.g/ml of
streptomycin) which media were then inoculated with dorsal root
nerve ganglions excised from E7 (Embryonic day 7) chick embryo and
were cultured for 16 to 20 hours under 5% CO.sub.2 and at
37.degree. C.. Subsequently, the object compounds were added to
media at various concentrations and 2 units/ml of mouse semaphorin
3A (Sema3A) was added after cultivating for 1 hour. The cultures
were further incubated for another 1 hour. Glutaraldehyde was
quickly added therein after said 1 hour to make the final
concentration 1%. The cultures were then left for 15 minutes at
room temperature so that the tissue sections were fixed, and
collapse rates of the growth cones were microscopically observed. A
well with no addition of Sema3A was made the control. The results
are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0089] FIGS. 1 and 2 show that the collapse rate of the growth
cones decrease as the compound concentration increase. On the
contrary, compounds alone did not affect the rates at all. The
results revealed that these compounds (SPF-3059-1, SPF-3059-2,
SPF-3059-5, M162 and A721) inhibit the growth cone collapse
activities of Sema3A in a concentration-dependent manner. The
longitudinal and lateral axes in the figures represent the collapse
rate of growth cones and the concentration of compounds,
respectively. .circle-solid..box-solid..tangle-solidup. show the
results when Sema3A was added after the addition of the compounds
and .largecircle..quadrature..DELTA. show those when Sema3A was not
added. Further, IC50 (.mu.g/ml) of the inhibitors were determined
by the method comprising: calculating the collapse rate of growth
cone (A)% of the negative controls (neither compounds nor Sema3a
was added); subsequently calculate the collapse rate of growth cone
(B)% of the positive controls (compounds were not added but Sema3a
was added); and the concentration was chosen for each compound from
the chart where the collapse rate of growth cone met (A+B)/2 (%),
which was made IC50 level. The followings are the results.
TABLE-US-00002 Compound IC50 (.mu.g/ml) SPF-3059-1 <0.1
SPF-3059-2 <0.1 SPF-3059-5 <0.1 M162 2.0 A721 5.0
[0090] These results show that SPF-3059-1, SPF-3059-2 and
SPF-3059-5 potently inhibit semaphorin.
EXAMPLE 3
Suppressing Action of SPF-3059-1 to the Collapse Activity of
Sema6C
[0091] The experiment was carried out in a same way as in Example 2
except that rat semaphorin 6C-AP (Sema6C-AP: a fusion protein of
extracellular domain of Sema6C and human placenta-derived alkaline
phosphatase) was used instead of mouse semaphorin 3A (Sema3A), and
dorsal root ganglions excised from 8-day-old chick embryos were
used instead of those excised from 7-day-old chick embryos. The
collapse rate of growth cone was measured when Sema6C-AP was added
one hour after the addition of the compound SPF-3059-1 at various
concentrations. The results are shown in FIG. 3. The longitudinal
and lateral axes in the figure represent the collapse rate of
grbwth cones and the concentration of SPF-3059-1, respectively.
.circle-solid. shows the result when Sema6C-AP was added after the
addition of SPF-3059-1 and shows the result when Sema6C-AP was not
added. FIG. 3 shows that the collapse rate of the growth cones
decrease as the SPF-3059-1 concentration increased. On the
contrary, SPF-3059-1 alone did not affect the rate at all. These
results revealed that SPF-3059-1 inhibit the growth cone collapse
activities of Sema6C-AP in a concentration-dependent manner.
EXAMPLE 4
Suppression of Neurite Outgrowth Inhibitory Action of Sema3A by the
Inhibitors
[0092] Whether the object compounds (SPF-3059-1, M162, A721) have
persistent inhibitory action to Sema3A was analyzed by the collagen
gel co-culture method (Neuroprotocols 4, 116, 1994) using
Sema3A-expressing COS7 cell clumps and 7- or 8- day-old chick
embryo dorsal root ganglions. The Sema3A-expressing COS7 cell
clumps were generated as follows. 1 .mu.g of Sema3A-expression
plasmid was introduced into COS7 cells (100000 cells/35 mm culture
plate), which were cultured overnight, with the FuGENE6
transfection reagent (Roche). 2.5 hours after the starting of the
transfection, the COS7 cells were collected by trypsinization and
centrifugation, and re-suspended in a medium of 200 .mu.l. 20 .mu.l
of the cell suspension was placed on the lid of the culture plate
(inside) and the lid was turned over, and then the suspension was
cultivated for 20 hours (hanging drop culture) (Cell 78, 425,
1994). When the culture was over, aggregated COS7 cells (clump)
were collected and trimmed to a diameter of 0.5 mm. The
Sema3A-expressing COS7 cell clump and the above-mentioned dorsal
root ganglions were placed in parallel at a distance of 0.5 to 1 mm
in a 0.2% collagen gel which was then cultivated in a medium
containing the aforementioned compounds at various concentrations
for 2 days at 37.degree. C. under 5% CO.sub.2. Glutaraldehyde was
quickly added therein to make the final concentration 1%. The
cultures were then left for 1 hour at room temperature so that the
tissues were fixed, and the neurite outgrowth was microscopically
observed. The results are found in FIG. 4.
[0093] The concentration gradients were formed in the
above-mentioned collagen gels because Sema3A was secreted from the
COS7 cell clump which was introduced with the Sema3A-expressing
plasmids (The one nearer to the COS7 cell clump had a higher
concentration). When a medium not containing a subject compound was
used, neurites were unable to grow towards the COS7 cell clump with
the high concentration of Sema3A and grew only to the opposite
direction. However, when the compound SPF-3059-1 or M162 was added
to the medium, neurite outgrowth was observed to the direction
toward the Sema3A-expressing COS7 cell clump. Such neurite
outgrowth toward the Sema3A-expressing COS7 cell clump was more
remarkable as the compound concentration was higher, suggesting the
concentration-dependency. This result showed the ability of
SPF-3059-1 and M162 to persistently inhibit Sema3A activities.
However, only when A721 was added, neurite outgrowth toward the
Sema3A-expressing COS7 cell clump, which was observed with the
addition of SPF-3059-1 and M162, was not observed. This showed that
A721 did not have the persisting inhibitory action on Sema3A.
EXAMPLE 5
Suppression of Neurite Outgrowth Inhibitory Action of Sema3A
[0094] In a similar way as in Example 4, suppression of the neurite
outgrowth inhibitory activity was analyzed for the compounds,
SPF-3059-1, SPF-3059-2 and SPF-3059-5. When the neurites outgrew in
a complete concentric circular shape just like for the control
groups where Sema3A-non-expressing COS7 cells were used, it was
scored +++ (a strong inhibitory effect for Sema3A). When the
outgrowth was found almost in a concentric circular shape
accompanied with a little suppression of the outgrowth toward the
direction of Sema3A-expressing COS cells, it was scored ++. When
the outgrowth toward the direction of Sema3A-expressing COS cells
is fairly suppressed to present a crescent shape, it was scored +.
When the outgrowth toward the direction of Sema3A-expressing COS
cells was not found at all (no inhibitory effect for Sema3A), it
was scored -. The determined results are shown below.
TABLE-US-00003 Concentration of the subject compounds (.mu.g/ml)
Compound 0.5 1.0 2.0 SPF-3059-1 + ++ +++ SPF-3059-2 + ++ +++
SPF-3059-5 + ++ ++ PBS (control) - - -
[0095] These results revealed that the compounds, SPF-3059-1,
SPF-3059-2 and SPF-3059-5 persistently inhibited the action of
Sema3A secreted from the Sema3A-expressing COS7 cells during the
48-hour culture.
EXAMPLE 6
In Viva Nerve-Regeneration Promoting Action of the Semaphorin
Inhibitor SPF-3.059-1 in the Olfactory Nerve Axotomy
[0096] Male Wister rats (6.5-week-old) were purchased from CHARLES
RIVER JAPAN, INC. and bred under free feeding and water uptake in
the dedicated breeding room. A sample solution was prepared by
diluting SPF-3059-1 to lmg/ml with PBS and filled in an osmotic
pressure pump (alzet 2004, ALZA co., USA). A pump filled with PBS
was used as a control. The sample solution and the like were
prepared on the day before the operation and the osmotic pressure
pump was bathed in PBS and placed overnight at room temperature.
Just before the operation, a L-cannula was connected to the one end
of a silicon tube filled with the sample solution and the like, and
the other end of the tube was connected to the pump. A rat was
anesthetized with pentbarbital (50 mg/kg, intrapenitrially
injected), and its head was fixed to the stereotaxic apparatus. The
scalp was incised along the median and the cranium above the
olfactory bulb was opened to expose the olfactory bulb (anterior
part). In order to axotomize olfactory nerve, a knife (a razor was
cut into 1.5 mm width) was inserted in between the olfactory bulb
and the cribriform plate. The olfactory nerve which is projected on
the upper olfactory bulb is axotomized by this handling. The
L-cannula was fixed to the cranium-opening above the olfactory with
surgical instant adhesive and dental cement so that the edge of
cannula is located in the vicinity of the incision. The sample
output was set to 6 .mu.l (6 .mu.g)/day. The pump was
subcutaneously inserted in the dorsal neck and the incision was
sutured. Then the animal was recovered.
[0097] Two and three weeks after the operation, the rat
anesthetized with pentbarbital was laid on its back and injected
with 100 .mu.l of 1% WGA-HRP/PBS (TOYOBO) into the nasal cavity
using a microsyringe. 24 hours after the HRP injection, the rat was
further anesthetized with pentbarbital (50 mg/kg, intrapenitrially
injected) and was thoracically incised. Subsequently, PBS was
perfused from the left ventricle and then PBS containing 200 ml of
4% paraformaldehyde was perfused. The olfactory bulb was excised
and placed in PBS containing 30% sucrose, was bathed therein
overnight at 4.degree. C., and was then frozen up with dry ice. The
olfactory bulb was embedded in an OTC compound on dry ice and then
30 .mu.m sections were prepared with a cryostat. The sections were
aliquoted in Tris-buffered saline (TBS) (one in every three
pieces). The sections were washed in TBS where a 0.1 M TBS
containing 0.48% DAB, 0.096% NiCl and 0.036% H.sub.2O was then
added and reaction took place for 15 min. After having been washed
in TBS, the sections were mounted on a glass slide and sealed after
they were dried. The sections were microscopically observed and HRP
reaction of the glomerulus at the outer portion of olfactory bulb
was observed.
[0098] Regeneration of olfactory nerves was quantitatively assessed
by observing in which horizontal section of the olfactory bulb from
the vertex did HRP-positive glomerulus emerge. The results are
shown in FIG. 5 and Table 1. All the rats except the one which died
from suffocation on Week 2 at the HRP injection were used for the
assessment. When SPF-3059-1 was injected, HRP-positive sections
were found in shallower pieces than the controls injected with PBS
at both Weeks 2 and 3. The significant differences were judged in
the SPF-3059-1-injected group against the PBS-injected group, the
HRP-positives were found in the shallower sections than the
PBS-injected group at Week 3. These results show that SPF-3059-1
has marked nerve-regeneration promoting action in the adult rat
models for olfactory nerve axotomy. TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 1 Positive
section No. (which section from the Number of Agent vertex, average
.+-. SE) rats Week 2 PBS 11.8 .+-. 0.3 4 Week 2 SPF3059-1 8.3 .+-.
1.9 3 Week 3 PBS 8.0 .+-. 1.4 4 Week 3 SPF3059-1 5.2 .+-. 1.9* 5 *p
< 0.05 vs PBS Student t-test
EXAMPLE 7
In Vivo Nerve-Regeneration Promoting Action of the Semaphorin
Inhibitors, M162 and A721 in the Olfactory Nerve Axotomy
[0099] The same experiment as in Example 6 was carried out with
M162 and A721. The results are shown in FIG. 6. These results show
that M162 has the in vivo nerve-regeneration promoting action but
A721 does not.
EXAMPLE 8
In Vivo Nerve-Regeneration Promoting Action of the Semaphorin
Inhibitor SPF-3059-1 in the Sciatic Nerve Crush
[0100] Male Wister rats were purchased at 7-week-old (CHARLES RIVER
JAPAN, INC.) and bred under the light and dark cycles for 12 hours.
The rats had free access to solid feedstuff (CLEA Japan, Inc., CE2)
and water, and were used in the experiment after about one week of
preliminary breeding. Under pentbarbital anesthesia, sciatic nerve
of the rat thighs was exposed, clipped for 30 sec with forceps of 5
mm width, and was thus crushed. The crush site was marked with 10-0
nylon thread. SPF-3059-1 was dissolved in PBS at 8.3 ug/ml and was
locally administered to the lesion site for 14 consecutive days at
a flow rate of 1 ug/day by using an osmotic pressure pump (2ML2, 5
ul/hr, alzet). PBS was administered to the controls. At Day 14 of
administration, the sciatic nerves were excised and trimmed at the
distal areas from the crush site (the positions of marking) by 2
mm, 6 mm and 10 mm. The incised sciatic nerves were fixed in 2.5%
glutaraldehyde/0.1 M phosphate buffer for a day and a night. When
they were fixed, nerves were dehydrated by alcohol and were
embedded in epoxy resin. The transverse sections of the sciatic
nerves were made and dyed with toluidine-blue, and their
photographs were taken under an optical microscope to determine the
counts of myelinated fibers. After the areas of sciatic nerves were
measured, the myelinated fiber density was calculated by dividing
each area by the count of myelinated fibers. The results are shown
in FIG. 7. The myelinated fiber density was increased more in the
SPF-3059-1-injected group compared to that of the PBS-injected
group at the distal areas of 2 mm and 6 mm from the crush site.
This result shows that SPF-3059-1 has the promoting effect for the
regeneration of sciatic nerves that were crushed.
EXAMPLE 9
Effect of the Semaphorin Inhibitor SPF-3059-1 on Cell
Proliferation
[0101] COS7 cells were seeded onto a 96-well plate (medium 100
.mu.l/well) at 10000 cells per well. At the same time, SPF-3059-1
of various concentrations was added and the cells were cultivated
for two days in the presence of 5% CO at 37.degree. C. Each well
was then added with 10 .mu.l of MTT solution at 5 mg/ml and
cultured for another one hour. Subsequently, the culture
supernatant was removed and formazan (an MTT derivative produced in
viable cells) accumulated in the cells was dissolved by the
addition of 50 .mu.l DMSO and then the absorbance at 570 nm was
measured to determine the proliferation of COS7 cells. The results
are shown in FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 8, the level of cell
proliferation in the culture carried out in the presence of
SPF-3059-1 was similar to the level observed in the absence of
SPF-3059-1. This result shows that SPF-3059-1 has no suppressing
activity forcellproliferation. The longitudinal and lateral axes in
the figure show cell proliferation and the SPF-3059-1
concentration, respectively. Besides, the standard deviation (n=4)
was added to each column.
EXAMPLE 10
Effects of the Semaphorin Inhibitors SPF-3059-1, SPF-3059-2 and
SPF-3059-5 on Cell Proliferation
[0102] The same effect on cell proliferation as in Example 9 was
examined for the compounds, SPF-3059-1, SPF-3059-2 and SPF-3059-5.
The wells with these compounds were served as samples, the wells
with PBS were served as control, and the wells for which the
experiment was carried out without adding the cells was served as
blank. IC50 (.mu.g/ml), the inhibitory rate for cell proliferation,
was determined, which is calculated by the equation shown below.
The inhibitory rate for cell proliferation (%)=(1-(absorbance of a
sample well-absorbance of the blank well)/(absorbance of the
control well-absorbance of the blank well)).times.100
[0103] The determination results of the inhibitory rate for cell
proliferation of the above-mentioned compounds are as follows,
showing that no cytotoxicity was observed at 1000 to 3000 folds or
even higher concentrations in which semaphorin inhibitory
activities can be observed. TABLE-US-00005 Compound IC50 (.mu.g/ml)
SPF-3059-1 >300 SPF-3059-2 >100 SPF-3059-5 >300
Example 11
Inhibitory Activity of Sema3A-Receptor-Binding
[0104] Whether SPF-3059-1 inhibits the binding of Sema3A and
Neuropilin-1, which is a component constituting Sema3A receptor
complex, was examined in the receptor-binding experiment.
Neuropilin-1 and plexin Al are currently known as constituting
components of Sema3A receptors. However, mainly Neuropilin-1 is
known to contribute to Sema3A binding. Sema3A fused with alkaline
phosphatase (human-derived: heat-resistance) (Sema3A-AP) was used
as a ligand in the receptor-binding experiment and the amount bound
to the receptor was detected with the alkaline phosphatase activity
as an index. Mouse-derived Sema3A was used. A recombinant gene was
generated in which alkaline phosphatase was fused from the 758th
amino acid to the C terminal side in said Sema3A. This recombinant
gene was then introduced into a COS7 cell where it was expressed
and secreted and Sema3A-AP was prepared.
[0105] The receptor-binding experiment was performed as described
below. The Neuropilin-1 expressing plasmid
(pUCSR.alpha.-Neuropilin-1) was introduced into COS7 cells and
cultivated for 24 hours. These cells express Neuropilin-1 on the
cell surface. The cells were washed once in HBH buffer solution
(Hank's balanced salt solution containing 20 mM HEPES, pH7.2, and
0.5 mg/ml bovine serum albumin) and then HBH buffer solution
containing Sema3A-AP, and SPF-3059-1 of various concentrations (0
to 10 .mu.g/ml) were added at the same time. After having been left
for one hour at room temperature while being shaken, Sema3A-AP was
bound to Neuropilin-1 expressing cells, after which the supernatant
was removed. Subsequently, the cells were washed six times in HBH
buffer solution to remove the excess Sema3A-AP. Thereafter
Sema3A-AP bound to the cells was solubilized with 10 mM Tris-HCl,
pH 8.0, 1% Triton X-100 solution (the cell extract). Insoluble
materials in the cell extract was removed by centrifugation and
then endogenous alkaline phosphatase of the cell per se was
inactivated after the treatment for one hour at 65.degree. C. The
alkaline phosphatase activity derived from Sema3A-AP in the cell
extract (=binding amount of Sema3A-AP) was determined. An aliquote
of the cell extract was admixed with SEAP buffer (1M
diethanolamine, 0.5 mM MgCl.sub.2 10 mM L-homoarginine) and a
fluorescent substrate (10 mM p-nitirophenyl phosphate), and kept
warm at 37.degree. C. The solution was then measured for its
absorbance at 405 nm (p-nitrophenol: generated from p-nitirophenyl
phosphate with alkaline phosphatase). The results are shown in FIG.
9. The results show that the binding of Sema3A-AP decrease in a
concentration-dependent manner with increasing concentration of
SPF-3059-1. This clearly shows that SPF-3059-1 inhibits the Sema3A
activity because the compound inhibits the binding of Sema3A to its
receptor.
EXAMPLE 12
Inhibition of Collapse Activity by the Contact of Sema3A and the
Inhibitor
[0106] Sema3A was mixed with SPF-3059-1, which concentration was
high enough to show the inhibitory activity (0.25 .mu.g/ml)
(=Pre-Mix sample). Thereafter the Pre-Mix sample was added to the
culture solution of dorsal root ganglions to examine whether the
growth cone collapse activity of Sema3A was inhibited. The amount
of Pre-Mix sample was a quarter of that of the culture solution.
This means that the SPF-3059-1 concentration will be diluted from
0.25 .mu.g/ml to 0.05 .mu.g/ml (1/5 fold) when the Pre-Mix sample
is added to the culture solution of dorsal root ganglions. This is
the concentration where the inhibitory activity will not be
observed when SPF-3059-1 and Sema3A are independently added. The
results are shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 10 shows that Sema3A activity
was inhibited when the Pre-Mix sample was added to the culture
solution of dorsal root ganglions in spite of the fact that the
final concentration of SPF-3059-1 was 0.05 .mu.g/ml (concentration
of no-inhibitory activity). This means that the activity of Sema3A
will be lost at the moment when Sema3A and SPF-3059-1 come in
contact. From this result, the target molecule of SPF-3059-1 is
thought to be Sema3A.
EXAMPLE 13
In Viva Nerve-Regeneration Promoting Action of the Semaphorin
Inhibitor SPF-3059-1 in the Transaction of the Spinal Nerve
(Cerebral Cortex-Spinal Cord Tract)
[0107] Male Wister rats (10-week-old) were purchased from Charles
River Japan, Inc. and bred under free feeding and water uptake in a
dedicated breeding room. They were used in the experiment after
about one week of pre-breeding. SPF-3059-1 was prepared to 0.1
mg/ml with PBS. PBS was used as a control. The agent was filled in
an osmotic pressure pump (Alzet, model 2004, dosage for four weeks,
flow rate 0.25 .mu.l/hr). A cannula filled with the sample solution
etc. was connected to the pump and pre-incubated in saline
overnight at room temperature.
[0108] A rat was intrapenitrially injected with pentbarbital (50
mg/kg). Skin and muscles in dorsal thoracic spinal cord region of
the anesthetized rat were incised and the T8-T12 vertebras were
exposed. Laminectomy was carried out for the T11 thoracic vertebra
under the microscope. A pair of ophthalmologic scissors attached to
the manipulator was punctured and inserted across the median line
into the depth of 1.5 mm from the duramater surface, and the
cerebral cortex-spinal cord pathway was incised and separated. The
vertebra opening was filled with a spongel. Cannulation was
performed from the T9 vertebra which was perforated with a surgical
drill to expose the duramater. The part of the duramater, to which
a cannula was to be inserted, was perforated with an injection
needle and the silicon tube connected with the pump was inserted
therein. It was made sure that the edge of the cannula reached to
the T11 spinal cord injured area. Then a spongel was filled in the
vertebra opening where a drop of surgical instant adhesive was
infiltrated. The cannula was fixed to the adjacent muscle with
suture to prevent slipping off. After suturing the muscle operated,
the incised skin was stitched together with suture clamps. The
sample was administered for four consecutive weeks with the sample
flow rate of 0.6 .mu.g/day.
[0109] Two weeks after the operation, the rat was anesthetized with
pentbarbital (50 mg/kg, intrapenitrially injected) whose head was
fixed to the stereotaxic apparatus. The scalp was incised along the
median line and the cranium was perforated with a drill to expose
the cerebrum. 10% DBA (Dextran Biotinylated Amine) was injected 0.1
.mu.l each to 18 spots in the cerebrum cortex motor area with a
microsyringe, after which the incision was sutured and the animal
was recovered. DBA will be transported from the nerve nucleus to
the spinal cord pathway nerves. After two weeks of breeding, the
rat was anesthetized again with pentbarbital and its thoracic part
was incised and then PBS was perfused from the left ventricle.
Subsequently, PBS containing 200 ml of 4% paraf ormaldehyde was
perfused. The spinal cord (including lesioned part) was taken out
and fixed overnight in the solution, which was then placed in PBS
containing 30% sucrose and bathed therein at 4.degree. C. The
spinal cord was embedded in the OTC compound and frozen on dry ice.
30 .mu.m sections were prepared with a cryostat and aliquoted in
Tris buffer solution (TBS). The sections were washed in TBS and
bathed in ABC reaction solution for two hours. After the sections
were washed, they were visualized with DBA substrate and the
preparations were made. Regenerated nerve fibers in the lesioned
area were microscopically observed. FIG. 11 shows the result of the
injection of SPF-3059-1 of the present invention and FIG. 12 shows
the result of PBS injection as a control. FIGS. 11A, B and C and
FIGS. 12A, B and C show serial sections in the proximal of
traumatized region, respectively. FIG. 11D and FIG. 12D are
largemacrographs of FIG. 11B and FIG. 12B, respectively. When
SPF-3059-1 was administered, the retention of DBA (dark arrowhead)
was observed in the rostral part to the lesion site as shown in
FIG. 11D. Many DBA-positive fibers were observed extending from the
retention area to the caudal along the lesioned area (light
arrowhead) and regenerated nerve fibers that extended evading the
incision site were frequently observed. On the contrary, when PBS
was administered, DBA retention (dark arrowhead) was observed in
the rostral part to the lesion site as shown in FIG. 12D. A few
DBA-positive fibers were observed to the caudal side along the
lesioned area (light arrowhead) and only a few nerve fibers were
observed. These results revealed that SPF-3059-1 has the
nerve-regeneration promoting action in the spinal cord injury model
adult rats.
EXAMPLE 14
Production of the Novel Compounds of the Present Invention
[0110] A 10 ml medium containing 2% glucose, 5% sucrose, 2% cotton
seed powder, 0.1% sodium nitrate, 0.1% L-histidine, 0.05%
dipotassium phosphate, 0.07% potassium chloride and 0.0014%
magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, with its pH adjusted to 7.0, was
pipetted to a Erlenmeyer flask of 50 ml volume and sterilized in an
autoclave. A loopful Penicillium sp. SPF-3059 (FERM BP-7663) on
slant culture was inoculated into this medium and cultured with
shaking at 180 rpm at 27.degree. C. for 4 as pre-culture. A medium
with the same composition as the above-mentioned medium was
pipetted 125 ml each to five Erlenmeyer flasks of 500 ml volume and
sterilized in an autoclave. Subsequently, the above-mentioned
pre-culture solution was added 4 ml each to the five flasks and
cultured with shaking at 180 rpm for days at 27.degree. C. A 30
liters of medium containing 1.43% glucose, 3.57% sucrose, 1.43%
cotton seed powder, 0.07% sodium nitrate, 0.07% L-histidine, 0.036%
dipotassium phosphate, 0.05% potassium chloride, 0.001t magnesium
sulfate heptahydrate and 0.01% Adekanol LG-295S (antiforming agent
by Asahi Denka Co., Ltd), with its pH adjusted to 7.0, in a jar
fermentor of 50 liters volume was sterilized under high-pressure
steam (121.degree. C., 20 min). Then 500 ml of the above-mentioned
cultured broth was added to the fermentor and cultured at
27.degree. C. for 9 days with an agitation of 400 rpm and an
aeration of 15 liters/min.
[0111] When the culture was finished, the cultured broth was
centrifuged for 10 minutes at 10,000 rpm to separate the
supernatant and the mycelium. The supernatant fraction was
extracted twice with a 20 liters of ethyl acetate-formic acid
(99:1). The fungus mycelium fraction was extracted with 30 liters
of acetone, and then filtered and concentrated. After concentrated
into aqueous solution, it was extracted with 10 liters of ethyl
acetate-formic acid (99:1). Both extracts were then mixed and
concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain 224 g of crude
extract. 100 g of this crude extract was dissolved in 500 ml of
methanol and applied to a column chromatography using Sephadex
(trademark) LH-20 (Amersham Biosciences K. K.), and eluted with
methanol. Active fractions were collected and the solvent was
evaporated under reduced pressure to obtain 48.8 g of oily
substance. The substance was then dissolved in 400 ml of methanol
and applied to a column chromatography using TSKgel TOYOPEARL
HW-40F (Tosoh Corporation), and eluted with methanol. The active
fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated under
reduced pressure to obtain 21.8 g of crude substance. This crude
substance was then dissolved in 200 mg aliquots in 2 ml of DMSO and
applied to a preparative reversed-phase HPLC. The conditions of the
preparative reversed-phase HPLC were, column: Wakopak.RTM.
Wakosil-II5C18HGprep (connecting 5 i.d..times.10 cm and 5
i.d..times.25 cm, Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.), solution A:
1% aqueous formic acid solution, solution B: methanol, gradient: a
linear gradient for two hours from 45% to 75% for the proportion of
the solution B, flow rate: 25 ml/min, and detection: absorbance at
260 nm. The eluate was fractioned by one minute.
[0112] The eluted fractions as described above were analyzed by
analytical HPLC. The conditions of the analytical HPLC were,
column: Wakopak.RTM. Wakosil-II5C18RS (4.6.times.150 mm, Wako Pure
Chemical Industries, Ltd.), solution A: 1% aqueous formic acid
solution, solution B: methanol, gradient: a linear gradient for
71.1 min from 20% to 67% for the proportion of the solution B, flow
rate: 1.3 ml/min, and detection: absorbance at 260 nm. The
fractions containing the object compound were collected with the
retention time in this analytical HPLC as the index, and the
solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure. The resulting
material was again applied to the preparative HPLC and purified in
a similar manner as in the above, and were further applied to a
column chromatography using TSKgel TOYOPEARL HW-40F (Tosoh
Corporation) and purified similarly as in the above. Fractions
containing the object compound were collected and the solvent was
evaporated under reduced pressure. Thereby, the purified compounds
described below were obtained. TABLE-US-00006 Retention time in the
analytical HPLC Compound Amount obtained (mg) (min) SPF-3059-12 6.2
34.4 SPF-3059-24 28.0 34.5 SPF-3059-4 10.2 36.0 SPF-3059-25 4.0
39.3 SPF-3059-34 2.9 40.8 SPF-3059-6 34.9 45.6 SPF-3059-27 17.4
46.1 SPF-3059-26 6.2 46.5 SPF-3059-28 11.8 46.6 SPF-3059-7 13.0
47.0 SPF-3059-39 2.8 49.95 SPF-3059-37 4.0 50.0 SPF-3059-3 118.2
50.1 SPF-3059-35 11.0 51.5 SPF-3059-9 100.9 52.7 SPF-3059-29 45.6
54.0 SPF-3059-36 3.7 57.8 SPF-3059-30 23.5 63.0
[0113] Physicochemical properties of the compounds obtained are as
follows:
(SPF-3059-3)
Appearance: yellow powder
Molecular weight: 534
Molecular formula: C.sub.27H.sub.18O.sub.12
Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (FAB-MS) m/z(positive):
[0114] 535(M+H).sup.+
Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (FAB-MS) m/z(negative):
[0115] 533(M-H).sup.-
High Resolution Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (HRFAB-MS)
m/z(M+H).sup.+:
[0116] Measured value: 535.0905
[0117] Calculated value: 535.0877 (C.sub.27H.sub.19O.sub.12)
UV-VISIBLE Absorption Spectrum .lamda..sub.max (in methanol) nm
(.epsilon.):
[0118] 242(30,800), 317(22,700), 367(14,000)
Infrared Absorption Spectrum .nu..sub.max (KBr) cm.sup.-1:
[0119] 3356, 1700, 1652, 1610, 1515, 1475, 1283
.sup.1H-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0120] 2.28, 2.29, 2.68, 2.69, 4.62, 4.62, 4.64, 4.72, 5.03, 6.38,
6.40, 6.90, 6.91, 7.44, 7.98, 8.54, 8.90-11.10, 12.70
.sup.13C-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0121] 16.5, 17.0, 32.3, 32.4, 56.2, 65.8, 68.0, 103.0, 104.2,
108.7, 108.8, 109.4, 113.5, 118.2, 118.6, 122.2, 125.7, 127.5,
129.8, 132.0, 132.6, 134.8, 137.6, 137.9, 138.8, 144.3, 150.5,
150.6, 152.0, 152.6, 154.2, 154.5, 155.5, 156.3, 167.6, 167.7,
173.4, 183.5, 186.2, 199.2, 202.8, 203.0
Solubility:
[0122] Insoluble: water, hexane
[0123] Soluble: methanol, DMSO
[0124] Taken together, the structure of SPF-3059-3 was determined
as the following formula [20] (tautomer). ##STR29## (SPF-3059-4)
Appearance: Cream-colored powder Molecular weight: 560 Molecular
formula: C.sub.28H.sub.16O.sub.13 [0125] Fast Atom Bombardment Mass
Spectrum (FAB-MS) m/z(positive):
[0126] 561(M+H).sup.+
Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (FAB-MS) m/z(negative):
[0127] 559(M-H).sup.-
High Resolution Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (HRFAB-MS) m/z
(M+H).sup.+:
[0128] Measured value: 561.0667
[0129] Calculated value: 561.0670 (C.sub.28H.sub.17O.sub.13)
UV-VISIBLE Absorption Spectrum .lamda..sub.max (in methanol) nm
(.epsilon.):
[0130] 221(35,600), 250(38,100), 276sh(25,800), 323(24,300)
Infrared Absorption Spectrum .nu..sub.max (KBr) cm.sup.-1:
[0131] 3412, 1665, 1619, 1563, 1465, 1427, 1263
.sup.1H-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0132] 2.53(3H,s), 2.56(3H,s), 6.84(1H,d,2.1), 6.95(1H,s),
6.96(1H,d,2.1), 8.17(1H,s), 8.52(1H,s), 10.10-11.40(3H,brs),
12.71(1H,brs), 13.26(1H,brs)
.sup.13C-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0133] 29.2, 32.1, 102.3, 103.2, 110.1, 112.4, 112.8, 119.6, 120.3,
120.8, 126.3, 133.1, 133.4, 136.7, 137.5, 141.7, 150.8, 152.3,
152.7, 152.8, 157.2, 163.9, 167.4, 169.3, 172.2, 172.9, 199.3,
201.0
Solubility:
[0134] Insoluble: water, hexane
[0135] Soluble: methanol, DMSO
[0136] Taken together, the structure of SPF-3059-4 was determined
as the following formula [21]. ##STR30## (SPF-3059-6) Appearance:
Cream-colored powder Molecular weight: 592 Molecular formula:
C.sub.29H.sub.20O.sub.14 Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum
(FAB-MS) m/z(positive):
[0137] 593(M+H).sup.+
Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (FAB-MS) m/z(negative):
[0138] 591(M-H).sup.-
High Resolution Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (HRFAB-MS)
m/z(M+H).sup.+:
[0139] Measured value: 593.0949
[0140] Calculated value: 593.0932 (C.sub.29H.sub.21O.sub.14)
UV-VISIBLE Absorption Spectrum .lamda..sub.max (in methanol) nm
(.epsilon.):
[0141] 210sh(45,900), 223(47,700), 317(25,800), 358sh(14,700)
Infrared Absorption Spectrum .nu..sub.max (KBr) cm.sup.-1:
[0142] 3418, 1701, 1617, 1565, 1465, 1301
.sup.1H-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0143] 2.22(3H,s), 2.72(3H,s), 3.11(3H,s), 3.98(2H,brs),
6.78(1H,s), 6.88(1H,s), 8.21(1H,s), 9.00-13.00(6H,brs)
.sup.13C-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm: 16.8, 32.4, 57.8, 64.4,
102.1, 102.3, 109.3, 111.9, 118.4, 118.6, 119.1, 119.6, 127.6,
128.2, 131.6, 139.0, 141.6, 142.1, 150.7 (2C), 151.9, 152.9, 155.5,
162.0, 167.8, 167.9, 172.4, 174.6, 202.6
Solubility:
[0144] Insoluble: water, hexane
[0145] Soluble: methanol, DMSO
[0146] Taken together, the structure of SPF-3059-6 was determined
as the following formula [22]. ##STR31## (SPF-3059-7) Appearance:
Yellow powder Molecular weight: 562 Molecular formula:
C.sub.28H.sub.18O.sub.13 Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum
(FAB-MS) m/z(positive):
[0147] 563(M+H).sup.+
Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (FAB-MS) m/z(negative):
[0148] 561(M-H).sup.-
High Resolution Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (HRFAB-MS)
m/z(M+H).sup.+:
[0149] Measured value: 563.0843
[0150] Calculated value: 563.0826 (C.sub.28H.sub.19O.sub.13)
UV-VISIBLE Absorption Spectrum .lamda..sub.max (in methanol) nm
(.epsilon.):
[0151] 242(31,600), 312(24,500), 385(10,200)
Infrared Absorption Spectrum .nu..sub.max (KBr) cm.sup.-1:
[0152] 3424, 1701, 1603, 1504, 1448, 1420, 1270
.sup.1H-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0153] 2.28, 2.29, 2.68, 2.69, 4.62, 4.67, 4.71, 5.04, 6.38, 6.41,
6.81, 6.92, 6.93, 7.95, 8.52, 9.33, 11.22, 11.35, 12.93
.sup.13C-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0154] 16.6, 17.0, 32.3, 32.4, 56.2, 65.7, 67.9, 102.3, 102.8,
103.1, 104.3, 108.7, 109.3, 110.1, 112.5, 112.6, 118.5, 118.7,
121.6, 122.1, 125.9, 127.6, 130.1, 131.9, 132.4, 135.3, 137.4,
137.6, 138.9, 139.7, 151.9, 152.3, 154.5, 155.5, 156.2, 157.1,
163.6, 167.6, 169.3, 172.7, 172.8, 183.7, 186.2, 199.1, 202.5,
202.7
Solubility:
[0155] Insoluble: water, hexane
[0156] Soluble: methanol, DMSO
[0157] Taken together, the structure of SPF-3059-7 was determined
as the following formula [23] (tautomer). ##STR32##
(SPF-3059-9)
[0158] Appearance: Yellow powder
[0159] Molecular weight: 534
[0160] Molecular formula: C.sub.27H.sub.18O.sub.12
Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (FAB-MS) m/z(positive):
535(M+H).sup.+
Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (FAB-MS) m/z(negative):
[0161] 533(M-H).sup.-
High Resolution Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (HRFAB-MS)
m/z(M+H).sup.+:
[0162] Measured value: 535.0876
[0163] Calculated value: 535.0877 (C.sub.27H.sub.19O.sub.12)
UV-VISIBLE Absorption Spectrum .lamda..sub.max (in methanol) nm
(.epsilon.):
[0164] 207(47,600), 243(41,800), 314(34,000), 369(23,000)
Infrared Absorption Spectrum .nu..sub.max (KBr) cm.sup.-1:
[0165] 3444, 1702, 1614, 1474, 1289
.sup.1H-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0166] 2.29, 2.31, 2.67, 2.70, 4.60, 4.65, 4.69, 5.97, 6.32, 6.35,
6.89, 6.90, 7.03, 7.17, 7.94, 8.50, 12.50, 9.20-10.80
.sup.13C-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0167] 16.6, 17.1, 32.3, 32.4, 56.2, 65.9, 68.2, 102.3, 103.0,
103.2, 103.9, 109.9, 110.0, 110.4, 110.5, 111.9, 112.2, 118.2,
118.6, 120.5, 125.7, 127.7, 130.0, 131.9, 132.4, 134.8, 138.2,
139.1, 140.9, 141.1, 141.5, 150.2, 150.3, 151.7, 152.2, 154.1,
154.6, 154.9, 155.8, 156.6, 167.5, 172.6, 172.7, 183.5, 187.2,
199.3, 202.7, 202.9
Solubility:
[0168] Insoluble: water, hexane
[0169] Soluble: methanol, DMSO
[0170] Taken together, the structure of SPF-3059-9 was determined
as the following formula [24] (tautomer). ##STR33## (SPF-3059-12)
Appearance: Cream-colored powder Molecular weight: 560 Molecular
formula: C.sub.28H.sub.16O.sub.13 Fast Atom Bombardment Mass
Spectrum (FAB-MS) m/z(positive):
[0171] 561(M+H).sup.+
Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (FAB-MS) m/z(negative):
[0172] 559(M-H).sup.-
High Resolution Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (HRFAB-MS)
m/z(M+H).sup.+:
[0173] Measured value: 561.0680
[0174] Calculated value: 561.0670 (C.sub.28H.sub.17O.sub.13)
UV-VISIBLE Absorption Spectrum .lamda..sub.max (in methanol) nm
(.epsilon.):
[0175] 232(37,400), 250sh(34,800), 285(28,000), 308sh(23,200),
360sh(9,000)
Infrared Absorption Spectrum .nu..sub.max (KBr) cm.sup.-1:
[0176] 3080, 1698, 1608, 1468, 1291
.sup.1H-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0177] 2.54(3H,s), 2.55(3H,s), 6.82(1H,d,2.1), 6.87(1H,s),
6.95(1H,d,2.1), 8.22(1H,s), 8.55(1H,s), 9.50-13.50(5H,brs)
.sup.13C-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0178] 29.1, 32.2, 102.1, 103.0, 109.4, 112.1, 113.5, 119.8, 120.0,
121.7, 126.6, 132.0, 133.3, 135.9, 136.7, 141.7, 150.6, 152.1,
153.0, 155.4, 157.6, 162.4, 167.4, 167.6, 172.2, 172.9, 199.1,
201.1
Solubility:
[0179] Insoluble: water, hexane
[0180] Soluble: methanol, DMSO
[0181] Taken together, the structure of SPF-3059-12 was determined
as the following formula [25]. ##STR34## (SPF-3059-24) Appearance:
Cream-colored powder Molecular weight: 532 Molecular formula:
C.sub.27H.sub.16O.sub.12 Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum
(FAB-MS) m/z(positive):
[0182] 533(M+H).sup.+
Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (FAB-MS) m/z(negative):
[0183] 531(M-H).sup.-
High Resolution Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (HRFAB-MS)
m/z(M+H).sup.+:
[0184] Measured value: 531.0621
[0185] Calculated value: 531.0564 (C.sub.27H.sub.17O.sub.12)
UV-visible Absorption Spectrum .lamda..sub.max (in methanol) nm
(.epsilon.):
[0186] 212(36,900), 229sh(34,500), 283(26,300), 323(21,700)
Infrared Absorption Spectrum .nu..sub.max (KBr) cm.sup.-1:
[0187] 3447, 1697, 1629, 1578, 1470, 1290
.sup.1H-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0188] 2.52(3H,s), 2.54(3H,s), 6.92(1H,s), 6.93(1H,s), 7.28(1H,s),
8.13(1H,s), 8.54(1H,s), 9.50-13.00(5H,brs)
.sup.13C-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0189] 29.1, 32.3, 102.3, 102.9, 107.9, 110.0, 115.8, 119.8, 120.4,
120.7, 126.5, 133.0, 133.3, 136.0, 141.2, 145.0, 150.4, 151.1,
152.2, 152.9, 153.0, 154.3, 167.5, 172.6, 173.6, 199.1, 201.1
Solubility:
[0190] Insoluble: water, hexane
[0191] Soluble: methanol, DMSO
[0192] Taken together, the structure of SPF-3059-24 was determined
as the following formula [26]. ##STR35## (SPF-3059-25) Appearance:
Cream-colored powder Molecular formula: C.sub.27H.sub.16O.sub.11
Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (FAB-MS) m/z(positive):
[0193] 517(M+H).sup.+
Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (FAB-MS) m/z(negative):
[0194] 515(M-H).sup.-
High Resolution Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (HRFAB-MS)
m/z(M+H).sup.+:
[0195] Measured value: 517.0778
[0196] Calculated value: 517.0771 (C.sub.27H.sub.17O.sub.11)
UV-VISIBLE Absorption Spectrum .lamda..sub.max (in methanol) nm
(.epsilon.):
[0197] 215(35,000), 253(35,100), 276sh(25,200), 323(23,400)
Infrared Absorption Spectrum .nu..sub.max (KBr) cm.sup.-1:
[0198] 3417, 1691, 1625, 1471, 1293
.sup.1H-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0199] 2.54(6H,s), 6.82(1H,brs), 6.92(2H,brs), 7.27(1H,s),
8.14(1H,s), 8.53(1H,s), 9.5-14.0(4H,brs)
.sup.13C-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0200] 29.2, 32.3, 102.9, 103.0, 107.8, 109.9, 113.0, 115.7, 120.4,
120.6, 126.4, 133.3, 133.4, 136.4 (2C), 145.0, 151.2, 152.3,
152.98, 153.01, 157.3, 164.2, 169.4,172.6, 173.6, 199.2, 201.0
Solubility:
[0201] Insoluble: water, hexane
[0202] Soluble: methanol, DMSO
[0203] Taken together, the structure of SPF 3059-25 was determined
as the following formula [27]. ##STR36## (SPF-3059-26) Appearance:
Cream-colored powder Molecular weight: 488 Molecular formula:
C.sub.26H.sub.16O.sub.10 Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum
(FAB-MS) m/z(positive):
[0204] 489(M+H).sup.+
Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (FAB-MS) m/z(negative):
[0205] 487(M-H).sup.-
High Resolution Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (HRFAB-MS)
m/z(M+H).sup.+:
[0206] Measured value: 489.0823
[0207] Calculated value: 489.0822 (C.sub.26H.sub.17O.sub.10)
UV-VISIBLE Absorption Spectrum .lamda..sub.max (in methanol) nm
(.epsilon.):
[0208] 212(31,500), 235(30,900), 284(23,900), 324(19,500)
Infrared Absorption Spectrum .nu..sub.max (KBr) cm.sup.-1:
[0209] 3454, 1694, 1625, 1517, 1471, 1293
.sup.1H-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0210] 2.53(3H,s), 2.54(3H,s), 6.91(1H,s), 6.92(1H,s), 7.27(1H,s),
7.47(1H,s), 8.11(1H,s), 8.57(1H,s)
.sup.13C-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0211] 29.1, 32.2, 102.9, 103.0, 107.9, 108.5, 113.3, 115.7, 119.8,
120.7, 126.3, 132.7, 133.5, 135.8, 144.6, 145.0, 150.8, 151.1,
152.5, 152.9 (2C), 154.7, 173.3, 173.6, 199.1, 201.2
Solubility:
[0212] Insoluble: water, hexane
[0213] Soluble: methanol, DMSO
[0214] Taken together, the structure of SPF-3059-26 was determined
as the following formula [28]. ##STR37## (SPF-3059-27) Appearance:
Yellow powder Molecular weight: 642 Molecular formula:
C.sub.33H.sub.22O.sub.14 Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum
(FAB-MS) m/z(positive):
[0215] 643(M+H).sup.+
Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (FAB-MS) m/z(negative):
[0216] 641(M-H).sup.-
High Resolution Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (HRFAB-MS)
m/z(M+H).sup.+:
[0217] Measured value: 643.1088
[0218] Calculated value: 643.1089 (C.sub.33H.sub.23O.sub.14)
UV-VISIBLE Absorption Spectrum .lamda..sub.max (in methanol) nm
(.epsilon.):
[0219] 213(46,100), 246(46,600), 287(31,700), 354(19,900)
Infrared Absorption Spectrum .nu..sub.max (KBr) cm.sup.-1:
[0220] 3400, 1694, 1640, 1604, 1468, 1290
.sup.1H-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0221] 2.41(3H,s), 2.45(3H,s), 2.67(3H,s), 6.34(1H,s), 6.63(1H,s),
6.90(1H,s), 7.48(1H,d,2.1), 7.97(1H,d,2.1), 8.49(1H,s),
11.9(1H,brs), 12.5(1H,brs)
.sup.13C-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0222] 27.4, 30.2, 32.7, 102.3, 102.8, 109.8, 111.8, 117.4, 119.6,
119.7, 120.3, 126.7, 127.5, 128.4, 133.0, 133.4, 135.1, 135.8,
138.6, 139.9, 141.3, 150.5, 151.7, 154.6, 155.8, 157.5, 158.3,
167.5, 172.5, 196.3, 200.0, 201.6, 205.3
Solubility:
[0223] Insoluble: water, hexane
[0224] Soluble: methanol, DMSO
[0225] Taken together, the structure of SPF-3059-27 was determined
as the following formula [29]. ##STR38## (SPF-3059-28) Appearance:
Cream-colored powder Molecular weight: 532 Molecular formula:
C.sub.27H.sub.16O.sub.12 Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum
(FAB-MS) m/z(positive):
[0226] 533(M+H).sup.+
Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (FAB-MS) m/z(negative):
[0227] 531(M-H).sup.-
High Resolution Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (HRFAB-MS)
m/z(M+H).sup.+:
[0228] Measured value: 533.0735
[0229] Calculated value: 533.0721 (C.sub.27H.sub.17O.sub.12)
UV-VISIBLE Absorption Spectrum .lamda..sub.max (in methanol) nm
(.epsilon.):
[0230] 217(35,300), 236(34,100), 309(26,100)
Infrared Absorption Spectrum .nu..sub.max (KBr) cm.sup.-1:
[0231] 3502, 3096, 1690, 1598, 1503, 1434, 1303
.sup.1H-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0232] 2.39(3H,s), 2.71(3H,s), 6.52(1H,s), 6.85(1H,d,2.1),
6.92(1H,d,2.1), 6.98(1H,d,2.1), 8.25(1H,s), 9.5-13.5(5H,brs)
.sup.13C-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0233] 17.3, 32.4, 102.3, 103.3, 110.0, 112.1, 112.3, 113.4, 118.8,
120.6, 127.6, 128.9, 132.1, 136.1, 138.8, 140.9, 150.2, 152.0,
154.1, 157.8, 162.2, 162.6, 167.5, 169.2, 172.6, 175.3, 202.7
Solubility:
[0234] Insoluble: water, hexane
[0235] Soluble: methanol, DMSO
[0236] Taken together, the structure of SPF-3059-28 was determined
as the following formula [30]. ##STR39## (SPF-3059-29) Appearance:
Cream-colored powder Molecular weight: 548 Molecular formula:
C.sub.28H.sub.20O.sub.12 Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum
(FAB-MS) m/z(positive):
[0237] 549(M+H).sup.+
Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (FAB-MS) m/z(negative):
[0238] 547(M-H).sup.-
High Resolution Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (HRFAB-MS)
m/z(M+H).sup.+:
[0239] Measured value: 549.1027
[0240] Calculated value: 549.1034 (C.sub.28H.sub.21O.sub.12)
UV-VISIBLE Absorption Spectrum .lamda..sub.max (in methanol) nm
(.epsilon.):
[0241] 226(48,900), 316(26,200), 352sh(17,400)
Infrared Absorption Spectrum .nu..sub.max (KBr) cm.sup.-1:
[0242] 3388, 1687, 1662, 1626, 1469, 1296
.sup.1H-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0243] 2.23(3H,s), 2.72(3H,s), 3.11(3H,s), 3.98(2H,brs),
6.89(1H,s), 6.93(1H,s), 7.44(1H,s), 8.27(1Hs),
9.00-13.00(5H,brs)
.sup.13C-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0244] 16.8, 32.4, 57.8, 64.4, 102.3, 103.1, 108.6, 112.0, 113.5,
118.46, 118.48, 119.1, 127.7, 128.1, 131.8, 138.9, 141.8, 144.3,
150.6, 150.7, 151.9, 152.6, 154.2, 162.1, 167.8, 173.5, 174.6,
202.7
Solubility:
[0245] Insoluble: water, hexane
[0246] Soluble: methanol, DMSO
[0247] Taken together, the structure of SPF-3059-29 was determined
as the following formula [31]. ##STR40## (SPF-3059-30) Appearance:
Cream-colored powder Molecular weight: 490 Molecular formula:
C.sub.26H.sub.18O.sub.10 Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum
(FAB-MS) m/z(positive):
[0248] 491(M+H).sup.+
Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (FAB-MS) m/z(negative):
[0249] 489(M-H).sup.-
High Resolution Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (HRFAB-MS)
m/z(M+H).sup.+:
[0250] Measured value: 491.0966
[0251] Calculated value: 491.0979 (C.sub.26H.sub.19O.sub.10)
UV-VISIBLE Absorption Spectrum .lamda..sub.max (in methanol) nm
(.epsilon.):
[0252] 206(36,000), 240(32,700), 315(26,500), 372(17,900)
Infrared Absorption Spectrum .nu..sub.max (KBr) cm.sup.-1:
[0253] 3396, 1704, 1618, 1518, 1479, 1294
.sup.1H-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0254] 2.28, 2.30, 2.67, 2.69, 4.62, 4.66, 4.70, 4.96, 6.32, 6.36,
6.90, 6.91, 7.03, 7.17, 7.43, 7.98, 8.54, 9.20-10.80
.sup.13C-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0255] 16.5, 17.0, 32.3, 32.4, 56.2, 65.9, 68.3, 103.0, 103.2,
103.8, 108.6, 110.4, 111.8, 113.4, 118.6, 125.6, 127.5, 129.5,
132.1, 132.6, 134.4, 137.9, 138.8, 141.2, 141.5, 144.3, 150.6,
152.0, 152.5, 154.3, 154.6, 154.9, 155.8, 156.6, 172.6, 173.4,
183.5, 187.2, 199.3, 202.7, 202.9
Solubility:
[0256] Insoluble: water, hexane
[0257] Soluble: methanol, DMSO
[0258] Taken together, the structure of SPF-3059-30 was determined
as the following formula [32] (tautomer). ##STR41## (SPF-3059-34)
Appearance: Yellow powder Molecular weight: 550 Molecular formula:
C.sub.27H.sub.18O.sub.13 Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum
(FAB-MS) m/z(positive):
[0259] 551(M+H).sup.+
Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (FAB-MS) m/z(negative):
[0260] 549(M-H).sup.-
High Resolution Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (HRFAB-MS)
m/z(M+H).sup.+:
[0261] Measured value: 551.0846
[0262] Calculated value: 551.0826 (C.sub.27H.sub.19O.sub.13)
UV-VISIBLE Absorption Spectrum .lamda..sub.max (in methanol) nm
(.epsilon.):
[0263] 211(35,600), 240(31,100), 283(24,100), 349(14,500)
.sup.1H-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0264] 2.18(3H,s), 2.66(3H,s), 4.39(1H,d,11.9), 4.64(1H,d,11.9),
6.37(1H,s), 6.84(1H,s), 7.09(1H,s), 8.47(1H,brs)
.sup.13C-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0265] 16.8, 32.4, 72.5, 80.0, 102.1, 103.0, 109.5, 110.6, 111.1,
117.7, 120.0, 126.5, 131.8, 133.6, 138.6, 141.4, 141.5, 150.5,
151.7, 154.9, 155.0, 156.2, 167.7, 172.6, 188.5, 202.8, 204.0
Solubility:
[0266] Insoluble: water, hexane
[0267] Soluble: methanol, DMSO
[0268] Taken together, the structure of SPF-3059-34 was determined
as the following formula [33]. ##STR42## (SPF-3059-35) Appearance:
Cream-colored powder Molecular weight: 546 Molecular formula:
C.sub.28H.sub.18O.sub.12 Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum
(FAB-MS) m/z(positive):
[0269] 547(M+H).sup.+
Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (FAB-MS) m/z(negative):
[0270] 545(M-H).sup.-
High Resolution Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (HRFAB-MS)
m/z(M+H).sup.+:
[0271] Measured value: 547.0911
[0272] Calculated value: 547.0877 (C.sub.28H.sub.19O.sub.12)
UV-VISIBLE Absorption Spectrum .lamda..sub.max (in methanol) nm
(.epsilon.):
[0273] 216(38,600), 237(37,300), 307(30,100), 356sh(8,800)
Infrared Absorption Spectrum .nu..sub.max (KBr) cm.sup.-1:
[0274] 3460, 3076, 1734, 1699, 1629, 1466, 1302
.sup.1H-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0275] 2.39(3H,s), 2.71(3H,s), 3.82(3H,s), 6.49(1H,s),
6.86(1H,d,2.1), 6.92(1H,s), 7.01(1H,d,2,1), 8.25(1H,s),
9.5-13.5(4H,brs)
.sup.13C-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0276] 17.3, 32.4, 52.5, 102.3, 103.8, 110.0, 112.1, 112.8, 113.5,
118.8, 120.6, 127.7, 129.0, 132.1, 134.3, 138.8, 140.9, 150.3,
152.1, 154.1, 157.7, 162.2, 162.8, 167.5, 168.6, 172.6, 175.1,
202.7
Solubility:
[0277] Insoluble: water, hexane
[0278] Soluble: methanol, DMSO
[0279] Taken together, the structure of SPF-3059-35 was determined
as the following formula [34]. ##STR43## (SPF-3059-36) Appearance:
Cream-colored powder Molecular weight: 598 Molecular formula:
C.sub.32H.sub.22O.sub.12 Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum
(FAB-MS) m/z(positive):
[0280] 599(M+H).sup.+
Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (FAB-MS) m/z(negative):
[0281] 597(M-H).sup.-
High Resolution Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (HRFAB-MS)
m/z(M+H).sup.+:
[0282] Measured value: 599.1198
[0283] Calculated value: 599.1190 (C.sub.32H.sub.23O.sub.12)
UV-VISIBLE Absorption Spectrum .lamda..sub.max (in methanol) nm
(.epsilon.):
[0284] 213(46,300), 246(48,700), 287(33,200), 360(20,000)
.sup.1H-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0285] 2.41(3H,s), 2.45(3H,s), 2.66(3H,s), 6.34(1H,s), 6.63(1H,s),
6.90(1H,s), 7.46(1H,d,2.0), 7.46(1H,s), 7.95(1H,d,2.0),
8.52(1H,s)
.sup.13C-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0286] 27.3, 30.2, 32.7, 102.8, 103.1, 108.6, 111.7, 113.4, 117.3,
119.6 (2C), 126.7, 127.5, 128.5, 133.2, 133.4, 135.1, 135.6, 138.6,
139.7, 144.6, 150.8, 152.1, 154.6, 155.9, 157.5, 158.4, 173.3,
196.3, 200.0, 201.6, 205.2
Solubility:
[0287] Insoluble: water, hexane
[0288] Soluble: methanol, DMSO
[0289] Taken together, the structure of SPF-3059-36 was determined
as the following formula [35]. ##STR44## (SPF-3059-37) Appearance:
Yellow powder Molecular weight: 806 Molecular formula:
C.sub.41H.sub.26O.sub.18 Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum
(FAB-MS) m/z(positive):
[0290] 807(M+H).sup.+
Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (FAB-MS) m/z(negative):
[0291] 805(M-H).sup.-
High Resolution Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (HRFAB-MS)
m/z(M-H).sup.-:
[0292] Measured value: 807.1197
[0293] Calculated value: 807.1198 (C.sub.41H.sub.27O.sub.18)
UV-VISIBLE Absorption Spectrum .lamda..sub.max (in methanol) nm
(.epsilon.):
[0294] 219(68,900), 323(30,700), 349(30,600)
.sup.1H-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0295] 2.08(3H,s), 2.20(3H,s), 2.53(3H,s), 3.42(1H,d,15.6),
3.56(1H,d,15.6), 4.64(1H,d,13.4), 4.71(1H,d,13.4), 6.27(1H,s),
6.83(1H,s), 6.84(1H,s), 6.88(1H,s), 8.15(1H,s),
9.0-13.0(8H,brs)
.sup.13C-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0296] 16.6, 17.7, 20.0, 32.0, 62.3, 102.1, 102.25, 103.8, 106.0,
108.4, 108.7, 109.9, 111.55, 118.56, 119.2, 119.6, 120.4, 121.7,
127.9, 129.13, 131.1, 139.5, 140.6, 141.00, 141.7, 150.1, 150.23,
150.46, 150.51, 151.6, 152.3, 154.09, 154.17, 158.7, 161.1, 167.7,
168.0, 172.5, 173.2, 175.1, 202.2
Solubility:
[0297] Insoluble: water, hexane
[0298] Soluble: methanol, DMSO
[0299] Taken together, the structure of SPF-3059-37 was determined
as the following formula [36]. ##STR45## (SPF-3059-39) Appearance:
Yellow powder Molecular weight: 548 Molecular formula:
C.sub.27H.sub.16O.sub.13 Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum
(FAB-MS) m/z(positive):
[0300] 549(M+H).sup.+
Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrum (FAB-MS) m/z(negative):
[0301] 547(M-H).sup.-
UV-VISIBLE Absorption Spectrum .lamda..sub.max (in methanol) nm
(.epsilon.):
[0302] 223(40,000), 319(23,900), 349(20,100)
.sup.1H-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0303] 2.37(3H,s), 2.71(3H,s), 6.47(3H,s), 6.91(1H,s), 6.98(1H,s),
8.22(1H,s), 9.0-13.0(6H,brs)
.sup.13C-NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) .delta. ppm:
[0304] 17.3, 32.4, 102.3, 102.7, 109.9, 111.49, 112.4, 118.64,
118.8, 120.5, 127.5, 129.12, 132.1, 138.8, 140.96, 142.5, 150.29,
151.1, 152.0, 152.6, 154.24, 162.1, 167.5, 167.9, 172.6, 175.5,
202.7
Solubility:
[0305] Insoluble: water, hexane
[0306] Soluble: methanol, DMSO
[0307] Taken together, the structure of SPF-3059-39 was determined
as the following formula [37]. ##STR46##
EXAMPLE 15
Inhibitory Action of the Novel Compounds of the Present Invention
to the Collapse Activity of Sema 3A
[0308] In a similar manner as in Example 2, inhibitory actions of
the novel compounds of the present invention to the collapse
activity of Sema 3A were measured. IC50 were as follows and all of
them strongly inhibited Sema 3A. TABLE-US-00007 Compound IC50
(.mu.g/ml) SPF-3059-3 0.2 SPF-3059-4 2.0 SPF-3059-6 0.1 SPF-3059-7
1.0 SPF-3059-9 0.1 SPF-3059-12 2.0 SPF-3059-24 0.1 SPF-3059-25 4.0
SPF-3059-26 0.2 SPF-3059-27 0.5 SPF-3059-28 2.0 SPF-3059-29 0.1
SPF-3059-30 0.2 SPF-3059-34 0.1 SPF-3059-35 2.0 SPF-3059-36 4.0
SPF-3059-37 <0.1 SPF-3059-39 0.1
EXAMPLE 16
Inhibition of the Neurite Outgrowth-Inhibitory Action of Sema3A by
the Inhibitor
[0309] In a similar manner as in Example 5, the inhibitory actions
of the novel compounds of the present invention to the neurite
outgrowth-inhibitory action of Sema3A were measured. The results of
the measurement are presented below. TABLE-US-00008 Compound
concentration (.mu.g/ml) Compound 2 6 20 SPF-3059-2 +++ NT NT
SPF-3059-3 +++ NT NT SPF-3059-5 ++ NT NT SPF-3059-4 - + ++
SPF-3059-6 ++ ++ +++ SPF-3059-7 + + ++ SPF-3059-12 + + ++ PBS
(Control) - - - (NT = not tested)
[0310] This result demonstrates that the neurite
outgrowth-inhibitory action presented by Sema 3A can be
persistently inhibited by the novel compounds of the present
invention.
EXAMPLE 17
Determination of Cytotoxicity of the Novel Compounds of the Present
Invention
[0311] The effects of the compounds to cell proliferation were
determined by using COS7 cells, in a similar manner as in Example
10. The determination results of the cell proliferation inhibition
of the novel compounds of the present invention were as follows. It
was revealed that no cytotoxicity was observed at a concentration
as high as 50 to 1000 folds of the concentration where semaphorin
activities can be observed. TABLE-US-00009 Subject Compound
IC.sub.50 (.mu.g/ml) SPF-3059-3 >100 SPF-3059-4 >100
SPF-3059-6 >100 SPF-3059-7 >100 SPF-3059-9 >100
SPF-3059-12 >100 SPF-3059-24 >100 SPF-3059-29 >100
SPF-3059-30 >100
EXAMPLE 18
Production of Salts of the Compounds of the Present Invention
[0312] A compound of the present invention is dissolved in methanol
to prepare 1 mM solution. Methanol solution of 1 mM sodium
hydroxide is added to lml of the above solution by 2 ml when a
compound of the present invention has two carboxyl groups and by 1
ml when it has one carboxyl group, and is mixed thoroughly. The
solvent of the solution is evaporated under reduced pressure and
the residues are dried, and thus 1 .mu.mol of sodium salt of a
compound of the present invention is obtained.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0313] The semaphorin inhibitors as an active ingredient for nerve
regeneration promoters of the present invention have the peripheral
or central nerve regeneration promoting action even at a low
concentration and have suppressing action on the growth cone
collapse activity of semaphorin and/or on the neurite outgrowth
inhibitory activity of semaphorin in a collagen gel. Especially, a
low molecular weight compound semaphorin inhibitor with a molecular
weight of 1000 or less is advantageously used as a preventive or a
remedy for various neuropathic and neurodegenerative diseases
because of its significant molecular diffusibility, membrane
permeability, organ distribution, blood-brain barrier permeability
in particular, or the like.
* * * * *